Abaca for livelihood and watershed  protection

Abaca answers the goal for development that involves people, livelihood and environment.

Gilbert Eradio, Extension Unit Head at the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) in Iloilo said that abaca has been patronized by farmers in the watershed areas because they learned that they can make use of the shades in between trees to grow abaca.

“Abaca cannot grow without trees, hence farmers do not cut trees in the watershed anymore, so that they can grow more and earn from their harvest of abaca,” quipped Gilbert. “With abaca, people cannot cut trees, and that helps the watershed,” he added.

FIDA learned of the potential of growing abaca in bulk at the watershed areas of Maasin, Alimodian and Janiuay, when they joined a Baklay Bukid activity spearheaded by the LGUs and the Department of environment and natural Resources, in 2001. 

They found the areas very conducive for abaca planting in Iloilo as there were already some of it growing in the Maasin watershed.  Abaca planting, however, suffered a setback when open farming began to be practiced there, wherein farmers cut most of the trees to give way for kaingin and other forms of ground cultivation.

FIDA came into the picture by organizing a Farmers Field School (FFS) in Maasin in 2004, with 70 participants. The FFS was adopted by LGUs concerned and gave it their full support.  As a graduation requirement, each participant had to plant 515 hills (suckers) of abaca. For each, they were paid 1 peso and given incentives in the form of groceries and materials.

The 1 peso is so small for a hill of abaca planted, but the mindset of each abaca farmer tells him that it takes little effort to plant abaca, for once it is planted, it is there , and what the farmer gets is his harvest. A hectare can be planted to about 1,100 hills which can yield about 1200 kilos of fiber, with each kilo demanding a market price of Php42  at present. 

FIDA Regional Director Benjamin Gomo said that the more hectares abaca farmers plant and the more keen they are in following the right technology, they can harvest as many as four times a year, which means bigger income as much as 200,000 pesos, while keeping the environment healthy.

FIDA Development Officer Ernil Candido, said that as of June 2005, the agency had worked with  54 abaca farmers in Bgy. Trangka, Maasin, maintaining about 53.6 hectares; 19 from Bgy. Uminggan in Alimodian, with 9.55 hectares and still expanding to more;  and, 5 from Bgy. Canauillan Janiuay, with 4.16 hectares.

A half a hectare  nursery of abaca has been put up and maintained at the municipality of Alimodian through a Memorandum of Agreement signed by LGU and FIDA.

A Non-Government Organization called the Fundamental Alliance for united Agro-Forestry noted the success of FIDA's scheme among the abaca farmers in Maasin, such that they also adopted “Abaka Mo, Piso Mo” scheme as an incentive support to abaca farmers, in addition to technology and marketing support.

This partnership is implemented with a Peoples' Organization called the KAPAWA, or the Katilingban sang Pumuluyo nga Nagaatipan sang Watershed (PO Caring for the Watershed).

Meanwhile, FIDA said that abaca growing in the Philippines still needs the push that it should have, despite the fact that the country provides for 85% of abaca in the world market.  No other country in the world gets the dominance as far as abaca products are concerned.

The country produces only 70,000 metric tons of abaca fiber per year, less than the 100,000 metric tons demanded y the market.

Abaca pulp is preferred among other raw materials, especially wood pulp, because it is strong and versatile, FIDA Officer Gilbert Eradio said. Peso bills in 100's, 500's and 1,000's are made from abaca fibers.  Likewise, other supplies and materials that are meant to withstand environmental change and hazards.

Eradio also said that with wood pulp, more trees are cut, with abaca, pulp trees should not be cut, hence FIDA's initiatives with watershed areas in Iloilo are making abaca growing a very viable livelihood and a sustaining environmental protection mechanis. (PIA6)