Agriculture.ph Blog

Abaca and Other Phil. Natural Fibers The Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) Administrator, Ms. Cecilia Soriano gave a presentation on 14 Oct 2008 to MAP ABCDF special partners, members and guests. Her complete presentation and the minutes of the meeting can be downloaded through Google search www.map-abcdf.com.ph. Below are some macro and micro information about the FIDA, the industry and abaca: 1. FIDA was created in 1981 to promote the growth and development of the fiber industry’s research, production, processing, marketing and trade regulation. 2. There are 30 useful fiber crops in the Philippines and 14 have commercial applications. Examples are abaca, banana, buntal, coir, kapok, kenaf, kozo, maguey, piña, raffia, ramie, salago, silk and sisal. 3. FIDA’s main office is in Quezon City and has 10 regional offices across the country. FIDA also maintains and manages 4 tissue culture laboratories, 7 seed banks, 3 diagnostic laboratories, 3 sericulture centers, 1 hectare abaca protected nursery and 126 hectares of open field type nurseries strategically located in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. 4. The abaca industry sustains more than 1.5 million Filipinos who directly and indirectly depend on it for a living. Abaca constitutes 85% of the country’s total fiber production with total export earnings of US $ 79 million in CY 2007. Since abaca is a tertiary crop, its farmers are usually the poorest of the poor. 5. Markets prospects and opportunities a. New usage in composite applications for the automotive industry (the technology was developed and patented by Daimler ? Chrysler and introduced in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class coupe which started production in September 2004). b. Use of abaca fiber instead of glass resulted in energy savings of 60% (per Daimler-Chrysler, it would need 70,000 metric tons of abaca fiber every year) c. Growing concern for environmental protection and forest conservation the world over have provided limitless opportunities for natural raw materials like abaca, silk, piña, etc. d. Abaca cordage – being natural with superior qualities over other materials e. Abaca pulp for industrial applications will further strengthen f. It is also used for meat and sausage casings g. Untapped markets for cigarette paper and tea bags in China and Eastern Europe h. Use in currency paper 6. Join FIDA’s abacaravan! Let us take good care of the abaca of our nation. It is Mother Nature?s gift to the Filipino people.

Written by: By: Ms. Cecilia Soriano

Source: www.map-abcdf.com.ph