Global demand for ube is pushing Filipino farmers to scale up

Around 900 farmers in Leyte and Bohol receive planting materials as the government seeks to expand production, tap growing export opportunities.

As global demand for ube continues to rise, the government is betting that more Filipino farmers can capitalize on the crop’s growing popularity overseas.

The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Bureau of Plant Industry, has distributed more than 60,000 ube planting materials worth nearly ₱2.6 million to around 900 farmers across Leyte and Bohol, marking the agency’s first large-scale planting material distribution program for the crop.

The beneficiaries came from more than 60 farmer groups concentrated in major ube-growing towns, including communities in Dagohoy, San Isidro, Tacloban, Ormoc, Baybay, and several other farming areas across the Visayas.

Ube has gained a strong following overseas in recent years, with ube-flavored ice cream, pastries, drinks, and other products becoming increasingly common in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia.

However, many ube farmers continue to face fragmented production, leaving growers dependent on seasonal orders, limited market access, and unreliable sources of income.

Aside from distributing planting materials, government agencies are conducting field monitoring and providing technical support to help farmers improve yields and maximize market opportunities.

Agriculture officials believe the trend presents an opportunity for Filipino farmers to tap higher-value export markets while strengthening the local supply chain.

The DA said the project could also help narrow the country’s agricultural trade deficit, which currently exceeds US$10 billion annually, by developing more export-oriented crops with strong international demand.

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