DA mobilizes LGUs to boost ube output

MANILA, Philippines — To boost local ube production, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is teaming up with local government units (LGUs) to create better export opportunities for growers and meet rising global demand.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said partnerships with LGUs are key to speeding up ube production and strengthening the industry’s competitiveness.

“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 added.

Production areas and target volumes will be identified by market demand, buyer requirements and farmers’ capacity.

The DA will provide technical assistance and quality planting materials, while LGUs organize farmers, identify suitable sites and mobilize local resources.

The agency added that private-sector partners and institutional buyers help align production with market requirements.

As part of the program, the DA, through its Cagayan Valley regional office, has been working with the municipal government of Echague, Isabela to scale up production and strengthen market linkages for ube.

About P3.7 million had been allocated for the production of 420,000 ube setts, or planting materials. About 211,180 setts have been delivered to Echague, while the remaining 208,820 will be handed out soon.

The initiative will support the development of 70 additional hectares, which will require another 1.4 million setts.

The DA aims to meet the demand by December through intensified propagation efforts and supplemental sourcing to augment output from its research stations.