Aklan, Iloilo abaca farmers to benefit from Germany-funded program

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Abaca farmers from four municipalities in Aklan and Iloilo will benefit from the memorandum of agreement signed between German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and Department of Agriculture (DA) for the Abaca Sustainability Initiative. 

Abaca thrives in Aklan and Iloilo provinces.  Abaca fibers are used in making tea bags, bags, mats and decors and are exported to United Kingdom, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Germany, US and Belgium.

The country is a major supplier of abaca pulp for teabag manufacturers.

The two-year program Abaca Sustainability Initiative will cover the towns of Madalag and Libacao in Aklan and the towns of Maasin and Janiuay in Iloilo. 

With a budget of P19 million (€386,000), the program will be implemented by DA’s attached agency Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) to sustain the production of abaca fiber and to enhance the income of abaca farmers.

The project to be implemented from 2015 to 2016 aims to increase the certified production areas to 500 hectares of certified abaca and would benefit some 300 beneficiary-abaca farmers in two provinces. 

The production abaca farms will be certified by  Rainforest Alliance, a foreign certifying body recognized by the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), before the farmers will undergo training.

The project includes training of farmer leaders on marketing and post-harvest handling and agricultural methods. They will be introduced in project areas with the decorticating machines for improved abaca fiber extraction and drying processes to meet the requirements for certified abaca products.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), or the German Development Cooperation signed the memorandum of agreement last month with DA officials.