UMVA has learned that the government has yet to lay the groundwork for an expected surge in demand for ube, a purple yam in high demand in markets like Italy and the Middle East.
A leading expert, who has recently visited Italy, noted strong demand for the root crop but found that the Office of the Agricultural Attaché in Rome had not yet assessed the market to determine Italy's specific demand requirements.
This lack of coordination means that the Department of Agriculture remains unaware of the potential demand, which could have been relayed to them. The Middle East, US, and UK are also viewed as strong potential markets for ube.
The Department of Trade and Industry projects that ube and ube-based products will generate $3.06 million in export revenue in 2025. However, experts stress the need for a program to encourage farmers by showing that there is a market for the product.
The government is urged to move in one direction and coordinate efforts to support farmers, who are among the poorest segments of the population. Currently, farmers operate in isolation, even under the National Convergence Initiative for Sustainable Rural Development.
This initiative aims to align the efforts of the Department of Agriculture, Agrarian Reform, and Economy, Planning, and Development to improve productivity and reduce poverty in agriculture. Ube farmers receive only 5-8% of the product's total value at retail and 2-4% of the export value.
Farmers typically earn about P50 per kilogram at farmgate, while the same ube can sell for around P700 per kilogram in public markets and up to P1,800 when exported. If the government successfully identifies and maps global demand, it can implement farmer clustering programs to ensure a sustainable supply of ube.
Experts recommend that the government provide initial subsidies to help farmers start and offer processing facilities to make their products export-ready, ensuring that farmers are fairly compensated. This could transform the lives of thousands of farmers and unlock a lucrative market for the Philippines.
