DAVAO ORIENTAL, April 05, 2024 – Two farmers associations (FAs) in Davao Oriental received abaca stripping machines as implement of the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Davao Region’s abaca livelihood program.

The stripping machines form part of the program’s abaca production project, which benefits nine (9) FAs from three (3) provinces of the region. Distributed to each FA, the project includes 12,000 abaca plantlets and various fertilizers.

SAAD Davao Region alloted Php 390,000 for the stripping machines. This year, Pichon Livelihood Association and DOFRA, both received the stripping machines for their existing abaca production. Meanwhile, the same agri-tool was planned to be delivered by SAAD Davao region to the remaining FAs next year.

“Dako among pasalamat sa SAAD nga gihatagan mi ani nga prebilihiyo, dakong tabang sa amoang asosasyon. Makatabang ang mga abaca nga gipanghatag lalo na sa amo kay di na mi mamalit, ug karon naa nay nakatagana nga stripper,” Ms. Brenda Sayman, chairperson for DOFRA, said.

[We’re thankful to SAAD for the privilege, these are a great help to our association. The plantlets are beneficial to us so that we won’t buy them anymore, and now, we have the provision for a stripper.]

According to the agency’s Abaca Industry Roadmap for 2018-2022, the global demand for abaca fibers has risen exponentially in recent years. With the Philippines being world’s leading abaca producer, as mentioned in the roadmap, abaca farming provides a new income-earning avenue, especially for farmers living in the highlands.

A major part of the roadmap highlights the Davao Region as a key area for boosting abaca production. This region has vast untapped potential, with both idle and unproductive lands belonging to Indigenous People (IP) communities and private sectors. The roadmap shows that it has to harness its potential and promote development in these areas.

“Importante ang abaca diri sa atoa kay mao na ni ang nahimong main crop sa uban natong mga IP nga maguuma,” emphasized Joed Orig, SAAD Davao Region’s acting Community Development Officer III. “Ginapili pud nato ang mga variety nga mas lig-on ang fiber kay para bug-at ang abot sa atong mga mag-uuma.”

[Abaca is vital here because it has become a main crop for some of our IP farmers. We’ve specifically chosen varieties with stronger fibers so that our farmer’s harvests weigh more.]

To equip the farmers with technical and practical knowledge in abaca farming, SAAD Davao Region partnered with the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) to train the beneficiaries beforehand.

SAAD Davao Region alloted Php 4,212,000 for the entirety of the project. For 2024, nine (9) FAs across 3 provinces of the region are set to receive the project’s package of 12,000 plantlets and fertilizers. 

Later this year, the FAs will also receive fertilizers consisting of complete and ammonium sulfate to support the plants’ production capacity. 

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Writer: James Brian Flaga, SAAD Davao Region PRDC

Photographer: Ronell Tangonan, SAAD Davao Region PRDC

Source: DA-SAAD Davao Region

Other source: Philippines retains top slot in global abaca production | BusinessMirror