DA and URC Forge Five-Year Partnership to Elevate Potato Farming in the Philippines

MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Universal Robina Corp. (URC) have entered into a five-year agreement to bolster the Sustainable Potato Program (SPP), aiming to enhance seed systems, empower farmer organizations, and increase productivity and incomes in key potato-growing regions.

According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative builds on URC’s involvement in the SPP since before the pandemic. URC has already provided approximately 506 metric tons of high-quality seeds to 14 farmer organizations across three regions. This collaboration has led to substantial yields, with a maximum output of 45 metric tons per hectare over 202 hectares, culminating in an estimated total production of 23,000 metric tons and a gross income of PHP920 million for the farmers involved.

Under the new agreement, URC will work to expand the project’s scope to include more regions, such as the Cordilleras, Bukidnon, and Davao, in collaboration with local potato producers and farmers’ associations. The DA’s regional offices will work alongside URC to select and train farmer groups in good agricultural practices, seed multiplication, and pest management, among other critical areas.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. highlighted the program’s broader ambitions, including the production of 2 million Generation 1 seeds aimed at enhancing the seed production process, initially covering 44 hectares. Over three generations, this effort is expected to extend to at least 12,000 hectares of commercial potato cultivation. Additionally, the partnership will provide nurseries, machinery, storage, and processing facilities to support the farmers’ needs.

The Bureau of Plant Industry will assist in the administrative aspects such as import permits and pest surveillance, ensuring a streamlined process for the importation and use of necessary materials. Secretary Laurel emphasized the significance of this public-private partnership, which has been pivotal in enhancing agricultural practices and supporting local farmers towards a more sustainable and productive future.