Philippines restricts ube exports as global demand strains Indigenous farmers

Global demand for ube, the purple yam long central to Filipino cuisine and Indigenous livelihoods, has surged, driving prices up more than fivefold in recent years. In Pampanga province, Aeta farming communities who have cultivated the crop for generations now face pressure as export demand grows. The Philippine government has restricted fresh ube exports to protect local supply, after reports that farmers were depleting stocks meant for future planting seasons. For the Aeta indigenous community, the boom raises questions about who benefits when a traditional staple becomes a global commodity.

Al Jazeera’s Jamela Alindogan reports from Pampanga province, northern Philippines.

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