Nueva Ecija yacon farmers eye shipments to Japan market

Filipino producers of yacon juice, tea and wine are eyeing the Japan market for distribution. Phytochemicals-rich yacon products are being tested for efficacy in battling diabetes. “Producers of processed yacon see the prospect of shipping these to Japan. We see that yacon has a good commercial potential especially if we emphasize its health components. Studies conducted showed it has high phytochemical content," said Dr. Perlita C. Tiburcio of the Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU). Nueva Vizcaya farm entrepreneurs and food science experts are current pilot-testing commercial scale production of yacon products with the help of NVSU’s Technology Business Incubator. Currently, Japan imports raw yacon from the Philippines, which they usually use to make salads. NVSU will jumpstart yacon commercial scale production through a 100-kg food processing plant, a 10-fold increase from the earlier 10-kg scale. “This volume will make commercial scale production more realistic than laboratory stage. It will be evaluated for ROI (return on investment)," Tiburcio said. The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) is spearheading a separate research on yacon processing after securing a P1.2 million business incubation fund from the Commission on Higher Education. BAR director Nicomedes P. Eleazar noted that organic yacon can be a prime product for the Japan market which is receptive to organic food products cultivated with minimal use of commercial fertilizers or pesticides. Among the products that NVSU has come up with are a pineapple-yacon juice, yacon pickles and preserves, as well as wine and tea. Tiburcio explained that the sweetness of yacon is healthier because it comes from inulin rather than glucose, which makes it good for diabetics. — BC/VS, GMA News