Gov’t not yet geared up for expected ube demand surge

By Edg Adrian A. Eva, Reporter

THE GOVERNMENT has not yet done the groundwork to prepare for the expected surge in demand for ube (purple yam), amid signs of strong interest in markets like Italy and the Middle East, a former agriculture undersecretary and economic planning official said.

Mercedita A. Sombilla, currently director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, said she recently visited Italy, where she noted strong demand for the root crop.

Ms. Sombilla said that during her visit, she found that the Office of the Agricultural Attaché in Rome has not yet scooped the market to determine Italy’s specific demand requirements, which could have been relayed to the Department of Agriculture (DA), indicating a lack of coordination.

The Middle East, the US, and UK are also viewed as strong potential markets for ube, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Ube and ube-based products are expected to generate $3.06 million in export revenue in 2025, the DTI said.

Ms. Sombilla cited the need for “a program to encourage farmers by showing that there is a market for the product.” She was speaking to reporters during the BusinessWorld Economic Forum last week.

“I think many government departments are still not really talking to each other. I hope the government can move in one direction,” she added.

Ms. Sombilla said the government continues to operate in “silos” even in the face of the ongoing National Convergence Initiative for Sustainable Rural Development.

The initiative aligns the efforts of the DA and the departments of Agrarian Reform and Economy, Planning, and Development, formerly the National Economic and Development Authority, to improve productivity and reduce poverty, particularly in agriculture.

Farmers are among the poorest segments of the Philippines, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Ube farmers only receive 5-8% of the product’s total value at retail and 2-4% of the export value, according to the PSA.

While farmers typically earn about P50 per kilogram at farmgate, the same ube can sell for around P700 per kilogram in public markets and up to P1,800 when exported.

Output was around 13,500 to 15,000 metric tons (MT) in 2025, well below peak production of 30,074 MT recorded in 2006.

If the government successfully identifies and maps global demand, it can implement farmer clustering programs to ensure a sustainable supply of ube while also ensuring that farmers are fairly compensated, Ms. Sombilla said.

“The government should provide them with initial subsidies to help them start, as well as processing facilities to make their products export-ready,” Ms. Sombilla said.