DA eyes P93 million budget for ube R&D

“We should not only look at our local market. The Philippines has great potential to promote its tropical fruits (globally).”

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is eyeing to increase the budget for ube research and development (R&D) to P93 million, given the root crop’s rising global demand.

DA Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said that the 2027 budget proposal would also include improving the propagation of ube planting materials.

This is a big jump from this year’s budget of P17 million for ube’s R&D, as several universities, including the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman and Los Baños, are ramping up efforts to boost the local production of the root crop.

De Mesa noted that they wanted to obtain the geographic indication (GI) for ube to establish the root crop in the country like the mangoes in Guimaras and the pomelo in Davao.

“We are currently conducting several R&D with several universities like UP in Diliman and Los Baños to enhance the propagation of planting material. That’s important to ensure the geographic indication,” De Mesa told reporters in a press briefing.

“For example, a GI of ube in Bohol, it’s important to establish it, because we don’t want to lose it. If you have a GI, that’s a protection already that the ube is known there,” he added.

De Mesa added that calamansi and some other tropical fruits are also becoming increasingly popular in the global market.

He added that they are coordinating with the Department of Trade and Industry in promoting Philippine export commodities.

“We should not only look at our local market. The Philippines has great potential to promote its tropical fruits (globally). So that our farmers’ income can grow beyond commodities,” he said. — Adrian Kenneth Halili