Washington cues $34-m grant to boost ube industry
The US government is providing $34.1 million (about P2 billion) in funding to advance the development of the Philippine ube industry in the next few years.
Lee Lipton, Washington’s Ambassador to the Philippines, said the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) had awarded the grant under its Food for Progress Program, which supports efforts to improve farm productivity and expand agricultural trade.
US-based nonprofit organization TechnoServe will implement the project, which is expected to benefit about 12,500 domestic ube farmers over the next five years.
Proceeds from the sale of almost 40,000 metric tons (MT) of American soybean meal funded the USDA grant, according to Lipton.
When asked for additional details, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the grant would primarily be used for research and development related to the ube value chain as well as capacity-building for farmers.
“Its main objective is to strengthen the Philippine ube value chain, improve planting materials and farmer productivity, up to aggregation, processing and export market access,” De Mesa, who is also the DA’s spokesperson, said in a phone interview on Friday.
De Mesa said the project will cover major production areas including Bohol, Cagayan and certain parts of Mindanao.
He also said the USDA grant will significantly boost funding for the industry’s development, noting that the agency is seeking a P300-million budget from Congress for 2027 to enhance ube production.
Lipton highlighted the importance of ube as a raw material for innovative food and beverage manufacturers worldwide, including those in the United States.
Lipton announced the grant for the local ube sector as both countries mark the 80th anniversary of their trade relations this year.
“This award will further strengthen the US-Philippines diplomatic and economic partnership, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year,” Lipton said.
The DA earlier suspended the exports of raw ube and propagative planting materials, which would likely last until 2028, to steadily develop the local industry in response to rising global demand.
However, the agency said it would still support efforts to export processed ube as it moves to expand the global reach of locally produced agricultural commodities.
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