Bohol’s production of ‘Ubi Kinampay,’ also known as the “Queen of Philippine Yams,” and other purple yam varieties are set to increase through a newly launched project being implemented by the Philippine Root Crop Research and Training Center of the Visayas State University (VSU Philrootcrops) with the Bohol Island State University (BISU).
The project, “Enhancement of Ubi Production through Trials and Demonstrations of S&T-Based Farm Practices to Support Industry Development in Bohol,” is led by VSU PhilRootcrops Director Marlon M. Tambis through the funding and support of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
Purple yam or ubi is both a culturally and economically important crop in Bohol, with the province accounting for nearly one-third of the country’s total supply. However, its production slowed down over the past decade due to the limited supply of quality planting materials, seasonal production cycles, and low adoption of modern farming technologies.
“The technique is to break its dormancy by planting it all year round since it is only usually planted during summer,” said Dir. Tambis.
With this, the project team aims to adopt the minisett propagation technique to rapidly produce ubi quality planting materials by cutting mother seed yams into smaller pieces or “minisetts.”
The team will also identify ubi varieties appropriate for year-round planting, including commercial varieties ‘Baligonhon,’ ‘Inoringnon,’ ‘Mindoro,’ and ‘Sampero,’ as well as ‘Ubi Kinampay’—a native variety known for its superior aroma, color, and taste. They will be tested in the municipalities of Corella, Bilar, Dauis, and Ubay, covering different elevations in Bohol.
Improved propagation and production techniques will also be introduced to farmers through orientations and training. Moreover, the team will strengthen market linkages between producers and processors to help sustain the livelihoods of ubi farmers and aid in reinvigorating the industry.
VSU PhilRootcrops and BISU will initiate these efforts in collaboration with the Bohol Provincial Agriculture Office, Bohol Experiment Station of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 7 (DA-RFO 7), and Alturas Group of Companies.
The project’s launch was organized by DOST-PCAARRD’s Crops Research Division (CRD) via videoconferencing.
Present in the activity were representatives from PhilRootcrops, BISU, and DOST-PCAARRD headed by CRD Director Leilani D. Pelegrina with Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP) Manager for Sweetpotato and Other Root Crops Fredric M. Odejar.