The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday said the government is intensifying support to boost the ube (purple yam) industry in the Philippines following the rising popularity of the commodity in both local and global markets.

In a press release Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) distributed more than 60,000 purple yam planting materials worth almost PHP2.6 million to farmers in Leyte and Bohol.

Tiu Laurel Jr. said ube is now one of the agricultural products in the Philippines gaining strong export potential in the international market, with ube-flavored products such as ice cream and pastries enjoying rising popularity in North America, Europe and other parts of Asia.

“With ube now enjoying global recognition, we see an opportunity to expand production, increase exports, and help reduce the country’s more than USD10-billion annual agricultural trade deficit,” he said.

Tiu Laurel said boosting support in these agri export “winners” will help elevate the profitability of Filipino farmers and advance economic growth, in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Meanwhile, BPI Director Glenn Panganiban said the initiative helps provide the groundwork for increased production, higher incomes, and a stronger domestic ube industry.

“As ube gains worldwide recognition, we must ensure Filipino farmers are positioned to take advantage of the opportunities it creates.”

The distribution covered 900 farmers organized into more than 60 farmer groups across key ube-producing areas in the Visayas.

Beneficiaries in Bohol were located in the towns of Dagohoy, San Isidro, Lila, Cortes and Albuquerque; while those in Leyte were spread across Abuyog, Tacloban, Baybay, Bato, Maasin, Ormoc, Carigara, Mayorga, Palompon, Naval, Mahaplag, Kananga, Burauen, Calubian and Inopacan.

The BPI also continues to provide technical support and capacity-building activities to help farmers improve yields and tap emerging market opportunities.

The BPI is implementing the initiative in partnership with the Philippine Root Crop Research and Training Center under the DA’s High Value Crops Development Program. (PNA)