DA-10, PhilRootcrops discuss potential of sweet potato as alternative staple food, plans underway

 

In support to the campaign toward achieving food sufficiency in the region, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) under the helm of Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan, pushes to strengthen the sweet potato industry as an alternative source for staple food.

This was discussed during the initial meeting with Philrootcrops director Marlon M. Tambis and the X Agricultural Cooperative (XAC), formerly known as Food Processors’ Association of Northern Mindanao (FOPANORMIN), at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon on March 27.

Centered on the meeting are the drafting of a research proposal on Sweet Potato as Rice for implementation come 2026; focusing on the production of Philrootcrops-sourced planting materials per market demand; targeting clustered farmers in the production of raw materials for processing; and accrediting XAC as source for planting materials with emphasis in the identification of strategic practices for quality control from planting to processing as well as the submission of a business model, for potential tie-up with either of the DA’s ACPC, PRDP, HVCDP, or KADIWA.

Locally known as camote, sweet potato contributes 5.5 percent or a total of 10,772.85 metric tons production volume of selected major vegetables and rootcrops in Northern Mindanao based on the PSA data during the first quarter of 2024.# (MGBS)