To improve competitiveness of root crop development, the Department of Agriculture through its High Value Crops Development Program National Program Management Office (DA-HVCDP NPMO), conducted a week-long assessment and evaluation of tissue culture facilities in Eastern Visayas to determine existing gaps and assess institutional capacity in addressing the increasing demand for ube (purple yam) and other rootcrops.
The assessment was led by HVCDP-NPMO personnel Ms. Angela Garcia and Lead Assessor Dr. Jeshurun Asher Tarun, assisted by some HVCDP staff in DA 8. They visited the Abuyog Experiment Station of DA RFO 8 in Abuyog, Leyte; the Tissue Culture Laboratory of PLGU Leyte; PhilRootcrops at Visayas State University; and the Fatima Multipurpose Cooperative Processing Facility in Tunga, Leyte.
The activity forms part of the National Assessment of Department of Agriculture Tissue Culture Centers and other Tissue Culture Laboratories. Specifically, visiting the Abuyog Experiment Station and PhilRootcrops aimed to evaluate current laboratory operations and facilities as basis for identifying potential areas for collaboration and future program interventions. Meanwhile, for the PLGU Leyte Tissue Culture Laboratory and Fatima Multipurpose Cooperative Processing Facility focused on assessing operational capacity and exploring opportunities for program support, particularly in response to the growing regional demand for ube.
Comprehensive evaluations were undertaken in all sites, focusing on Facility and Infrastructure, Equipment Inventory and Status, Production Capacity, Protocol and Bottleneck Analysis, and Manpower Assessment and Development. Technical recommendations were provided to the Fatima Multipurpose Cooperative Processing Facility on possible development of existing products and program assistance mechanisms relative to the increasing demand for ube in the region.
The team made a tour to Federico Maceda Farm in Pastrana, Leyte, which is known for ube and sweet potato production. The farm showcased its initial ube harvest intended for supply to the Fatima Cooperative.
The activity concluded with an exit conference attended by the assessment team and Ms. Lor Fatima Bucatcat, the OIC Chief of the Field Operations Division, where initial findings, areas for improvement, and recommended actions were discussed. A formal assessment report is expected to be submitted within one week. This initiative supports the Department of Agriculture’s continuing efforts to strengthen tissue culture systems and enhance the development of high-value rootcrops in Eastern Visayas.
