SURIGAO DEL NORTE, June 11, 2024 – The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) conducted a two-day training session on pre- and post-harvest techniques for the Abaca Production Project for the San Juan Abaca Farmers Association (SJAFA) in Alegria, Surigao del Norte, on May 16-17, 2024.

The program aims to improve beneficiaries’ livelihoods by training farmers in all stages of abaca fiber production, resulting in high-quality outputs.

Resource Persons Psymie Madel F. Ceballos and Alfritz L. Ceballos, Fiber Development Officers of 

Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PHILFIDA) – Caraga, shared insights with farmers on achieving market-standard quality abaca fiber. Key points included harvesting at the right maturity and maintaining abaca fiber moisture levels between 12% and 14%.

Part of the training discussion covered updates on the Abaca Industry, including harvesting techniques and fiber production processes. Topics included optimal harvest timing, methods such as tumbling and tuxying, and post-harvest procedures like stripping, drying, bundling, and storage.

The participants were engaged and attentive during the session, actively participating in the demonstration on proper handling and usage of the stripping machine.

SJAFA’s abaca production project 

As part of the project implementation, SAAD provided 15,000 pieces of abaca planting materials worth Php 600,000 to SJAFA, delivered in July 2023. Additionally, one unit of stripping machine worth Php 250,000 was received in April 2024. 

Association President Ramon A. Basil expressed heartfelt gratitude to the DA-SAAD Program for the training, highlighting its role in empowering farmers with valuable knowledge. He emphasized that through the project, farmers can sustain their families’ needs and achieve profitable incomes.

“Kung wala ni nga training, dili mi maka kat-on sa sakto nga pamaagi sa pag harvest sa abaca, maka benefit ang asosasyon tungod sa sakto nga pamaagi sa pag proseso. Dako kaayo nig ikatabang for the future kay mahimo ning mainline income sa mga mag uuma,” said Basil.

[Without the Abaca Training conducted, we won’t be able to learn the proper way in harvesting abaca. The association can benefit through the right way of processing. This will be a great help in the future as it will be the mainline income for abaca farmers.]

To sustain their operation while waiting for their abaca to mature, SJAFA along with Biyabid SAAD Farmers Association (BISAFA) in Biyabid, Sison, Surigao del Norte, and San Antonio Farmers Organization (SAFO) in San Antonio, Remedios T. Romualdez in Agusan del Norte, plans to buy abaca fibers produced by other farmers in the area. currently, they are offering their abaca stripping machine for rental service. This additional source of income contributes to the FAs’ financial growth, highlighting their pivotal role in the project’s implementation. ###

Writer: Shena Pabia, DA-SAAD Caraga Information Officer