by Larry Lopez
PINUKPUK, Kalinga- Development of the abaca industry looms in this municipality after experts from the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) trained farmers here on abaca production.

According to Sunshine Sacki of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office, Barangay Taggay in Pinukpuk has 2,065 hectares of natural abaca cover, a high potential area to develop an industry.
The place has soil and climatic conditions conducive to the plant. What the people here need is appropriate technology to upgrade the quality of abaca fibers harvested from the place, Sacki said.

Abaca is one of the country’s major exports, supplying 85 percent of the world’s abaca raw material.
The FIDA technology included improved abaca propagation methods that emphasized on integrated pest management.

But since the existing abaca plantation here naturally grows on the hills of Taggay, it lacks proper cultivation bringing lower quality of material. Farmers here are encouraged to devote new spaces to abaca and apply the FIDA technology. They are taught new techniques in propagating the plant through seeds, sucker,s and corm seed pieces on developed planting areas.


To avoid pest infestation, farmers are told to maintain at least a one-kilometer distance of the abaca from corn. It is observed that corn serves as favorite prey for pests and could be the bait for infestation.
As response, farmers in Taggay committed a hectare for abaca farmer’s field school (FFS), where demonstration activities on abaca production could be done.

As part of the training package, FIDA is providing two free improved hand stripping machines to the Taggay farmers, as start-up tools.

Abaca fiber is a quality material for industrial products like money bills, bags, pampers, ropes, and many others.


Sacki said DTI will come in for the marketing assistance to the Taggay farmers as soon as they are able to produce the initial fiber material. (PAB -PIA CAR,Kalinga)