The Department of Agriculture (DA), in partnership with local government units (LGUs) and private-sector stakeholders, is intensifying efforts to expand ube production, meet growing global demand for the purple yam, and create more export opportunities for Filipino farmers.
In Echague, Isabela, the DA Regional Field Office II (DA RFO 2) is working with the municipal government, farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs), and potential business partners to scale up production and strengthen market linkages.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said collaboration with LGUs is crucial to accelerating ube production and building a competitive industry.
“By combining the DA’s technical expertise and production support with the LGUs’ capacity to mobilize farmers, identify suitable areas, and provide local support, we can accelerate expansion, respond to growing global demand, and develop a bigger export market that will translate into higher and more sustainable incomes for our farmers.”
“By combining the DA’s technical expertise and production support with the LGUs’ capacity to mobilize farmers, identify suitable areas, and provide local support, we can accelerate expansion, respond to growing global demand, and develop a bigger export market that will translate into higher and more sustainable incomes for our farmers,” Tiu Laurel said.
Under the framework, production areas and target volumes are determined by market demand, buyer requirements, and farmers’ capacity.
The DA provides technical assistance and quality planting materials, while LGUs organize farmers, identify suitable sites, and mobilize local resources. Private-sector partners and institutional buyers help align production with market requirements.
As of October 7, DA RFO 2 had allocated P3.7 million to produce 420,000 ube setts, weighing about 100 grams each, through six research centers and stations. Of these, 211,180 had been delivered to Echague, with the remaining 208,820 expected to follow.
The initiative supports the development of an additional 70 hectares, requiring 1.4 million more setts. The DA aims to meet this requirement by December through intensified propagation and supplemental sourcing beyond its research stations’ capacity.
On October 1, Korean investors from Carnot Fleet, together with DA RFO 2 and the Echague LGU, assessed Simon’s Farm to identify development needs.
Discussions with the Agricultural Credit Policy Council covered possible interventions in cold storage, mechanization, automated irrigation, consolidation facilities, ube processing, and carbon-credit opportunities, subject to further assessment.
Cagayan Valley Regional Executive Director Rose Mary Aquino said the region had established the groundwork for ube production and exports two years before the crop gained global popularity.
The processing facilities at the Quirino State University was funded by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research. It is a shared and learning facility for Technology Business Incubation where ube powder quality requirements are being evaluated and perfected for export.
The Quirino facility helped produce ube powder samples that met Japan’s quality requirements, with marketing assistance from the Department of Trade and Industry.
Building on this foundation, the region expanded planting material production and strengthened public-private partnerships.
“The initial target is 100 hectares in Isabela, with expansion to 500 hectares by 2028.”
Aquino said the initial target is 100 hectares in Isabela, with expansion to 500 hectares by 2028. Small farmers are also joining production through links with private investors, helping secure market outlets.
The DA’s strategy highlights the need to match production growth with reliable markets, infrastructure, and processing capacity to ensure that rising global demand creates sustainable income opportunities for Filipino farmers.
