PHILIPPINES — Ube farmers in Bukidnon are set to benefit from a P35-million investment project that provides them with an assured market and access to global export opportunities. The five-year initiative was formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement signed on October 5, 2026, at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex.
A Landmark Partnership for Highland Farmers
The agreement brings together the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 10, Verueco Ventures Corporation, and two local farmer associations. The Lantapan Ube Planters Association and Balugto Hope Agroforestry Association, Inc. will each enter into separate profit-sharing arrangements with VVC. The partnership aims to establish a sustainable supply of high-quality ube ready for the global market.
Under the agreement, the project is expected to produce approximately 1.5 million kilograms of ube annually. This volume represents a significant boost for the region's agricultural output. Participating farmers will receive quality planting materials, farm inputs, technical assistance, and investment support throughout the five-year collaboration.
From Bukidnon Farms to American Markets
VVC Treasurer Jan Romeo Verueco said the investment is driven by the growing potential of ube in the global market. He shared that the initiative serves as the company's pioneering project involving ube farmers. The company aims to establish a stable supply of raw ube for processing.
The harvested ube will be transported to Batangas for processing into powder. This powder will then be exported to the United States, opening an international market opportunity for Bukidnon farmers. The arrangement ensures that local produce reaches premium global buyers while farmers receive fair compensation for their harvests.
Addressing the Market Access Challenge
For farmer-beneficiaries, the partnership directly addresses one of the most persistent challenges in agriculture: market access. Junita D. Luminda of Balugto Hope expressed gratitude for being part of the initiative. She noted that having a secured market even before planting provides farmers with greater assurance.
"We are very grateful to be part of this project because this is the first time we have experienced planting with an assured buyer," she said. She recalled past experiences growing vegetables where they faced failures due to market oversupply. The guaranteed buyer eliminates that risk.
LUPA Chairperson Roel Soria echoed this sentiment. He emphasized that financing alone cannot sustain farming without a reliable market. "We may be able to find financing anywhere, but without a market, it is still of no use," he said. He thanked the DA for making the initiative possible.
Government Support for Sustainability
DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan assured the company and farmer associations of continued technical support. The DA will provide soil sampling and analysis, farm machinery, organic fertilizers, quality planting materials, and regular field monitoring. These interventions aim to ensure the project's productivity and long-term sustainability.
The undertaking was also witnessed by Elevate Foods Group through CEO Jose Marcelo III and the Provincial Agriculture Office of Bukidnon. Their presence signals broad support for the initiative across both public and private sectors. With this project, DA-RFO 10 continues promoting strategic partnerships that empower farmers and expand agricultural enterprises.
