12th Ubi fest hits huges sales

12th Ubi fest hits huges sales

Bohol is trending in the brisk sales of fresh-harvest Ubi and home-made pastry products, including Ubi kalamay, all made of the yummy Kinampay (aromatic variety) during the 12th Ubi Festival held last week at Plaza Rizal despite low productivity.

The Ubifest also showcased newly-innovated products such as pastry sold along with other processed food from ubi at lower prices.

The three-day festival opened on January 18 with an array of activities anchored on theme, “Ubi: Gasa sa Kinaiyahan, sa Katawhang Bol-anon Paga-ampingan.”

Aside from UBi trading, green products such as ornamental plants, cut flowers, orchids were also up for grabs.

Department of Agriculture Regional Executive Director Leo Cañeda and Gov. Edgar Chatto led the ceremonial ribbon-cutting in front of the product display that precedes the opening program.

They were assisted by Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Members Abeleon Damalerio, Venzencio Arcamo and Cesar Tomas Lopez with Chatto’s wife, Pureza, Office of Provincial Agriculturist OIC Larry Pamugas and Bohol Agricultural Promotion Center Manager Eugene Cahiles, together with the heads of offices in the provincial government and representatives of national agencies,

Bohol is considered the “epicenter” of the Ubi industry in the Visayas but its production continues to drop every year, Cañeda said in his speech as the guest of honor.

Citing data, Cañeda said the drop of production is “not encouraging” when in fact the demand of high-value crops remained high both in local and world market.

In Bohol, Ubi-growing is very ideal because of its favorable climate, hence, “most suitable” and no other place where the rootcrop thrives well, said Caneda.

The Ubi industry used to be producing at least 18 tons per harvest but now it plunged to about one third only, Caneda said. With this scenario, “we need to create demand” even as he encourages the growers to plant more. The demand is very high in the U. S., Europe and Asia, especially in Singapore and Hongkong, he said.

The rootcrop’s low production is also reflected on the data that indicated only 91.45 hectares with some 1,660 farmers involved, Pamugas said, citing reports of the municipal agricultural officers.

Chatto, for his part, said the festival is the showcase of the rootcrop’s “special attachment” to Boholanos and “recognition” of Ubi growers.

The governor bared that his administration appropriated an amount of P1 million that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol chaired by Vice-Gov. Concepcion Lim has approved for Ubi industry development.

SALES/PASTRY PRODUCTS

Kinampay variety ran out of supply during the first day. Some buyers, who are mostly consumers at home, still were looking for aromatic purple stock the second day until the third day.

New pastry creations, like the Kinamapay Torta. Courtesy of the Vina’s Bakeshop of Baclayon town and Kinampay Kalamay of Jagna’s Ubi women’s Organization led by Rea Araneta, were also available but almost short of supply the whole duration of the fair.

New products such as Kalamay and Torta, Tart Macaroons, Ensaimada–all made of Kinampay, amazed the instant consumers at the trade fair. The Ubi sector is also introducing Ubi wine.

The usual ubi products were also there–Ubi powder for cake, Polvoron, Yema purple, Macaroons, Sliced bread, Cake, Lumpia, Suman, Siomai, ice candy–all made of Kinamapay.

Alicia Timbal and Arlene Amila of Jagna Ubi Women’s Organization took pride of their ice candy and kalamay.

Other varieties of the yum showcased in the event were Kabus-ok, Baligonhon, Tam-isan, Binanag, and Binato.

Baligonhon, which is of same color with that of Kinampay though not as aromatic, serves as “substitute” for Kinampay for ice cream or pastry making, according to one observer at the fair.

The exhibitors included Alburquerque, Antequera, Balilihan, Calape, Cortes, Corella, Duero, DepEd-city, Baclayon, Jagna, Loboc, Panglao, Sikatuna, RWEE, BoholMADE, Bohol Green Earth Society Producers Cooperative.

Behind the activity were the Governor’s Office, Vice-Governor’s Office, Social, Economic and Environmental Management (SEEM) Cluster, Provincial General Services Office, Effective Development Communication, DA-7, BAPC, Agricultural Training Institute, CENVIARC-Bohol Experiment Station, City Agriculture Office, PNP-Tagbilaran City, Bohol Island State University, Bohol Ubi Growers Association, Bohol MicroAgri-processors for Development (Bohol MADE), Bohol Ubi Center Foundation Inc., DepEd-Bohol Division and City Division, and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.(RVO)

 


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One Comment to “12th Ubi fest hits huges sales”

  1. bohol says:

    It’s good that the Provincial Government is holding this festival annually.

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