The sweetpotato industry in Central Luzon, Bicol, and Visayas is expected to be further boosted through a project led by the Philrootcrops of the Visayas State University (VSU).
Titled, “Enhancing the Development of Sweetpotato Food Value Chains in Central Luzon, Albay, Leyte, and Samar, and Linkaging with Related Industries Phase 2” is monitored and coordinated by the Socio-Economics Research Division (SERD) and funded by the PCAARRD of the DOST – spell out (DOST-PCAARRD). The project aims to address gaps and inadequacies in the value chain; determine factors affecting market consumption, and identify attributes of sweetpotato varieties preferred by consumers.
Project Leader, Dr. Daniel Leslie Tan, emphasized that the project will address gaps and inadequacies of the sweet potato value chain, strengthen capability and skills of partners and facilitators, facilitate Business Development Services (BDS), and upgrade and pilot-test the vacuum fryer developed in Phase I. This was during the inception meeting conducted on June 17, 2020.
Project consultant, Dr. Julieta Roa, said that in Phase I the project established the sweetpotato value chains and linkages with other agencies such as DOST, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), and private sector.
A more systematic market linking and development will be done in Phase 2 to improve the initial market understanding during the Farm Business School (FBS) implementation. Further, the project seeks to establish a platform of collaboration in respective influence areas to improve the likelihood of sustainability of the businesses.
The project will run for 15 months and is expected to end in August 2021. At the end of the project, implementers and partners are capacitated; industry and market linkages are strengthened to increase and sustain sweetpotato food value chains; market-centered sweetpotato products are developed; and technology promotion activities are conducted through regional and inter-agency platforms such as exhibits, trade fairs, and other related events.
SERD initiated kicked off the project during the inception meeting participated by the Crops Research Division of PCAARRD and the project team from the VSU-Philrootcrops. Ms. Jewel Cabardo of the University of the Philippines Los Banos-Department of Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship (UPLB-DAME) and Mr. Anton Palo, General Manager of Agri Foodlink participated as external evaluators.