FIDA pushes P2-B abaca program

FIDA pushes P2-B abaca program

By MELODY M. AGUIBA

The Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) is implementing a P2.12 billion abaca expansion on 50,390 hectares for 2005 to 2010 as it eyes growth in abaca�s $70 million yearly export specially as markets in rich countries prefer environment-friendly natural fiber over synthetics.

Cecilia Gloria J. Soriano, FIDA administrator, said FIDA will begin implementing the expansion this year which should sustain the growth abaca has been posting.

"We are among those crops that are recording growth. This year, we�ll begin developing new areas," she said in an interview.

The abaca sector posted a 16.21 percent growth in the first quarter of 2005 to 20,360 metric tons (MT) which is a faster growth than the 4.16 percent posted in the same quarter last year.

A development plan indicated that FIDA will extend credit and technical trainings to farmers and will distribute to them high-yielding and disease-free planting materials. In line with the expansion, a 76-hectare nursery will be established costing P5.9 million and a tissue culture laboratory worth P314,500.

Over the five-year period, separate nurseries are eyed to be established in private lands totalling to 407 hectares; in state universities and colleges, five hectares, and in identified local government units (LGU), 29 hectares.

It is estimated that to be able to hit the 50,390-hectare expansion, a total of 16.624 million seedlings will be needed.

The Philippines earned $73.513 million in abaca export in 2004. Although this export income is down from $78.171 million in 2003 as price dropped, volume of export actually rose to 46,145 MT in 2004, up by 4.8 percent from 44,019 MT in 2003. Production in 2004 was at 72,891 MT.

Specific export products were pulp, $40.413 million (20,469 MT); fiber, $14.147 million (19,310 MT); cordage, $9.064 million, (6,365 MT); yarns, $196,824; fabrics, $121,041; and fibercraft, $73.513 million (46,145 MT).

FIDA has identified suitable areas for abaca based on soil which must be clay loan or sandy loam with a topography that is rolling to moderately rolling, and an elevation of 300 to 500 meters while rainfall in the area must be evenly distributed.

"Disease incidence should be manageable, abaca should be one of the priority crops of the local government unit, and there should be availability of buyers," FIDA said.

Government has also been targeting to raise abaca yield through development of varieties that are disease-resistant since low average yield of only 600 kilos per hectare is far below the potential abaca yield of five MT per hectare.

In 2004, abaca expansion reached to 8,251 hectares, bringing total abaca area in the Philippines to 127,258 hectares, up from 121,399 hectares in 2003. There is a total of 77,526 abaca farmers in the country and a total 105 active cooperatives.

Expansion locations cover 41 provinces. In Region 3 and 4, initially identified locations are Aurora, 150 hectares; Oriental Mindoro, 159 hectares; and Palawan, 311 hectares. In Regions 5 to 6, expansion will be in Albay, 352 hectares; Camarines Sur, 146 hectares; CAmarines Norte, 10 hectares; Catanduanes, 361 hectares; and Sorsogon, 107 hectares.

In Regions 6 to 8, expansions are in Aklan, Capiz, and Iloilo, 115 hectares each; Negros Oriental, 358 hectares; Cebu, 200 hectares; Leyte, 291 hectares; and Northern Samar, 1,525 hectares; Western Samar, 358 hectares; Eastern Samar, 100 hectares; and Biliran, 450 hectares.

Identified areas in Region 9 and 10 are Isabela City in Basilan, 50 hectares; Zamboanga City, 100 hectares; Zamboanga del Sur, 200 hectares; Zamboanga del Norte, 300 hectares; Zamboanga Sibugay, 200 hectares; Bukidnon, 119 hectares; Camiguin, 50 hectares; Lanao del Norte, 200 hectares; Misamis Occidental, 100 hectares; and Misamis Oriental, 100 hectares.

For Regions 11 and 12, the areas are Davao del Sur, 169 hectares; Davao City, 50 hectares; Compostela Valley, 195 hectares; Davao Oriental, 260 hectares; South Cotabato, 195 hectares; Sarangani, 130 hectares; and North Cotabato, 26 hectares.

In Region 13, expansion areas are Agusan del Norte, 906 hectares; Agusan del Sur, 200 hectares; Surigao del Sur, 100 hectares; and Surigao del Norte, 50 hectares.

In Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao, the areas are Lanao del Sur, 100 hectares; Maguindanao, 50 hectares; Basilan, 200 hectares; Sulu, 120 hectares; and Tawi Tawi, 73 hectares.

http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2005/05/14/BSNS2005051434724.html