Ube Buyer in Aklan

The Philippine Statistics Authority recorded 130 tonnes of ube produced in Aklan in 2025, from 16.67 hectares planted. That is 1.06% of national output and ranks the province 22th in the Philippines by volume.

Aklan ranks 33th by area planted but 22th by volume produced — it punches 11 places above its land base. Per hectare, this is one of the more efficient places in the country to grow ube.

Aklan volume concentrates in Q1 — January–March — which carries 28.5% of the province's recorded output, averaged across 2023–2025. This is measured on volume produced, not area planted, so it reflects when tubers come out of the ground rather than when they go in.

Largely yes. Most Philippine ube comes off the ground around the December-to-March window. Aklan plants mainly in the first semester, which puts a share of its harvest outside that peak. Off-cycle volume is worth more to a processor than peak volume, because it fills the months when everyone else has nothing.

Yes, but the economics change below a certain size. For Aklan we work with individual growers from 500 kg and with associations or cooperatives at any volume. Below 500 kg the sensible route is to consolidate with neighbouring growers first — we can help coordinate that.

We buy Dioscorea alata (greater yam) — the purple-fleshed ube used for halaya, powder and paste. Kinampay and its local selections are preferred where available for their colour and aroma, but we buy standard local purple types as well. We do not buy Dioscorea esculenta (tugui) or white-fleshed yam.