Lagonglong abaca farmers receive tech assistance from DoST-X

ALTHOUGH the Bicol region, specifically the province of Catanduanes, remains as the top producer of abaca or Manila hemp with 52,493 hectares devoted to it, Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental is aspiring to capitalize on the huge market potential of abaca that has both domestic and international demand.

To support the Lagonglong abaca farmers’ dream, the Department of Science and Technology — Region XI (DoST-X) recently turned over a check amounting to P 1.3 million to the Local Government Unit of Lagonglong (LGU-Lagonglong) in Misamis Oriental on April 14, 2021, via an online conference, for a joint abaca processing project.

The funds will be used for science and technology interventions that will benefit the Abaca Fiber Processing to empower the Agro Forestry Farmers Association of Sitio Kalamansi (AFFASKA), Banglay Abulan Farmers Association (BAFA), and the Roa-Roa Farmers Association (ROFA).

Lagonglong has approximately 70 hectares of abaca plantation that amounts to 74,690 kilograms of fiber per year. The produce is mostly from endemic abaca within the area. With the DoST-X assistance, the farmers are expected to shift to cultivating good abaca planting materials and manage the farm well that can increase the amount of abaca produce to up to four times.

LGU-Lagonglong and DoST-X aim to bridge the gap in abaca processing and mechanize the methods to produce higher quality abaca at a much faster rate. This will eventually generate higher income for the farmers.

Through the project, DoST-X will provide Abaca Decorticating Machines to each farmer group for abaca processing, and 3,000 pieces of abaca planting materials to help cultivate the endemic abaca for a higher yield. LGU-Lagonglong, on the other hand, will provide the building that will house the processing activity.

The Abaca Decorticating Machines will help the farmers process more kilograms of abaca fibers for five times a week.