Philippine ube sector gets US$34.1 million grant from US
More than 12,500 Filipino farmers are expected to benefit from a five-year programme to strengthen the industry’s role in international food and beverage supply chains.
The Philippines’ Department of Agriculture (DA) said on October 25 that US support worth US$34.1 million would help develop the country’s purple yam, or ube, industry. The five-year programme is expected to reach more than 12,500 farmers across the country.
The award was made through the US Department of Agriculture’s Food for Progress Program. The DA said implementation would be handled by TechnoServe, a US-based nonprofit expected to contribute technical expertise, while financing would be generated by selling nearly 40,000 metric tons of American soybean meal.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the assistance would support increased production, help meet rising global demand and create opportunities for farmers to earn more. The programme also aims to strengthen Philippine participation in international supply chains for food and beverages.
Alongside the grant, the Philippine government has a ₱300 million initiative targeting at least a doubling of domestic ube output. The DA said this effort seeks to bring an additional 1,000 hectares into production during its first year and prepare for wider cultivation.
The domestic initiative’s first rollout is planned to coincide with harvesting and propagation in November 2026. The department has selected 10 ube varieties for cultivation on a large scale.
