Davao del Norte – Even before the first Ube planting materials given to the Ata Manobo families in Kapalong town could sprout, a processing program for the commercial production of Ube jam and powder is already being crafted.
Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib, a former bus conductor who scored an unbelievable political upset, has accepted my proposal for the provincial government to invest on a processing facility to produce Ube powder and jam in nicely packaged containers.
The proposed processing facility is part of the “Complete-Value-Chain” Advocacy of the Mindanao Development Authority to boost the growth of agri and fisheries based industries in Mindanao.
On Friday, during the launching of the “Adopt-an-IP Family” Program for the 150 members of Ata-Manobo families dubbed as the “Lost Tribe,” Purple Yam or Ube planting materials were distributed as part of the livelihood interventions.
Ube, which grows wild in the forest, is a staple food of the tribes in the mountains.
To boost production, they will be taught modern propagation techniques and given planting materials.
Gov. Jubahib said that by the time the Ube planted by the tribal communities is harvested 10 months later, the processing facility would be ready.
“We will sell Ube Jams in bottles and powders in nicely packed containers, instead of raw tubers to help them earn more,” Gov. Jubahib said.
MinDA will assist the provincial government in the planning and establishment of the processing facility which will be the first of its kind using production from the tribal communities.
(Mayette Tudlas | MinDA | OIC Michael Manguhig RPN DXKT Davao)
