Abaca – Strongest Natural Fiber In The World, Weakest Research In The Philippines!?

According to Britannica, abaca (Musa textilis Nee) is native to the Philippines[1], thus the other name, Manila hemp. According to Wikipedia, abaca has many uses, including tea bags, banknotes, decorative papers, hats, bags, carpets, clothing and furniture. The Philippines supplied 87.4% of the world’s supply in 2014, earning $111.33 million, and the demand is still greater than the supply[2].

Abaca is the lifeblood of more than 200,000 farming families from 56 provinces in the Philippines[3] (Author Not Named, 29 June 2015, “Improved Abaca Varieties To Nail PH As Top Exporting Country Abaca: Weaving More Opportunities Into Farmers’ Lives,” DoST.gov.ph). That’s about 1 million Filipinos dependent on abaca for their livelihood – so why have I not heard of at least one millionaire abaca family?! DoST, where are the opportunities for abaca planters and weavers? That was 6 years ago!

On 16 March 2021, Jasper Y Arcalas reported: “Abaca Yield Seen To Dip Further In 2021; P171-Million Rehab Ongoing[4]” (BusinessMirror.com.ph); the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) is source of the mage above. PhilFIDA says typhoon Rolly had devastated abaca plantations, especially in Catanduanes, #1 PH producer. PhilFIDA Executive Director Kennedy T Costales says they are now implementing a P171-million rehabilitation and expansion program. “We are doing everything to rejuvenate the industry, and in two years’ time we will return to the 70,000-MT production level or even exceed that volume,” There is also the P50 million fund reallocated by the Senate for “an aggressive expansion” of abaca in the country, this year in 1,100 ha across 11 provinces. They will put up plantations in those provinces, “with each plantation being contiguous and having an average size of 100 ha.” As an agriculturist, I say, good idea! Economies of scale.

Catanduanes has its own P121 million rehabilitation program, for 8,000 ha. Mr Costales says recovery of abaca production in Catanduanes will take 18 months to 2 years.

Very impressive numbers, if I may say so. But nothing is mentioned about developing the industry – surely, there are abaca plants standing from where to get stems to produce the fibers to produce more abaca products to produce more income?

On 30 March 2019, Victor Walter and Astrid Wilsby, in a report of their study, “Abaca In The Philippines[5],” describe “low productivity and profit” because of the “lack of proper farming management, distribution and un-optimized usage of the fibers.” Foreign eyes seeing 3 major domestic abaca problems!

While PhilFIDA aims for new plantations, research is crucial – as an agriculturist, I say they should try intercropping. Even better, multiple cropping with coconut groves, the trees providing natural protection against typhoons.

RF Rañola Jr published in 2004 a paper titled “Is There Any Future For The Production Of Abaca? Problems And Prospects For The Philippine Abaca Industry[6].” He mentioned 5 major factors that affect production: area, variety, capital & farm investment, cultural management, and location-specific technologies.

Only if you mind all those will you help PH abaca prosper, typhoon or no typhoon!@517

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[1]https://www.britannica.com/plant/abaca

[2]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abac%C3%A1

[3]https://www.dost.gov.ph/knowledge-resources/news/44-2015-news/746-improved-abaca-varieties-to-nail-ph-as-top-exporting-country-abaca-weaving-more-opportunities-into-farmers-lives.html

[4]https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/03/16/abaca-yield-seen-to-dip-further-in-2021-p171-million-rehab-ongoing/

[5]https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1352495/FULLTEXT01.pdf

[6]https://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=PH2005000029