The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Tuesday it is beefing up support in Cagayan Valley to boost ube or purple yam production amid the Philippines’ global export expansion.

In a news release, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the partnership with local government units (LGUs) is crucial to scale up production.

“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,” he said.

In particular, the DA-Cagayan Valley is coordinating with the municipal government, farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs), and potential business partners in Echague, Isabela.

About PHP3.7 million has been allocated for the production of 420,000 ube setts, weighing about 100 grams each, in six research centers and stations, as of Oct. 7.

This initiative supports the development of an additional 70 hectares, requiring 1.4 million more setts.

The agency seeks to hit this requirement by December through intensified propagation and supplemental sourcing beyond the capacity of research stations.

To date, 211,180 ube setts have been delivered to Echague, with the remaining 208,820 setts remaining for delivery.

Overall, the partnership framework allows the actual demand from the market, requirements from buyers, and capacity of farmers to determine the target production volume and areas.

For its part, the DA provides technical assistance and quality planting materials, while LGUs organize farmers, identify appropriate farming sites, and mobilize resources.

The private sector and institutional buyers, meanwhile, will help align ube production with market requirements. (PNA)