Locally known as abaca, it has been one of the country’s top traditional cash crops for decades, along with sugar and tobacco, and appears to be making a comeback as the world rushes to produce more PPE. | kocampoINQ
“With the new normal, demand for face masks will spike exponentially worldwide. PPE are just one of the hundred end products of the precious abaca plant,” Costales added.
At present, the Philippines only has 142,000 ha of land dedicated to growing hemp, with an average fiber yield per hectare of 0.54 MT. Of the country’s 81 provinces, 51 have abaca farms. Philfida data shows that the abaca sector contributes P4.7 billion to the economy annually and supplies 85 percent of the world’s abaca requirement.These numbers may already look impressive, but the sector’s full potential remains untapped as local farming methods remain rudimentary.
Mila is part of San Isidro Upland Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, which has more than 300 members and supplies the world’s biggest abaca trader, Ching Bee Trading Corp., a Filipino company that has been exporting natural fibers since the 1940s. “There are technologies that can scale up the utilization of abaca. We should be able, in the future, [to] create an environment where local farmers and manufacturers would benefit,” Dar said.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
$961M ‘hot money’ exits PH in March – The Manila TimesA six-year high of $961.05-million foreign portfolio investments left the Philippines in March, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data showed. March’s net outflows of “hot money” — so called because of how easily these go in and out of the economy — was a turnaround from February’s $40.06-million net inflows. The latest amount was the […]
Read more »
Russia open to cooperate with PH in COVID-19 vaccine development
Read more »
PH has ‘free, robust’ press, Palace assures US over concerns on ABS-CBN shutdownThe Philippines has a “free and robust” press, Malacañang said Friday after the US expressed concern over the closure of media network ABS-CBN. | KAguilarINQ
Read more »
Weight off their minds: Hidilyn Diaz’s online workouts feed PH familiesStill training in Malaysia, Olympic weightlifting star Hidilyn Diaz finds a way to lend a hand back home.
Read more »
PH COVID-19 positivity rate way below global benchmark, expert saysThe Philippines’ COVID-19 positivity rate stands at 7 percent — still way below the 10 percent benchmark set by the World Health Organization. | DJEsguerraINQ
Read more »
Gatchalian wants inquiry on COVID-19 impact on PH basic educationMANILA, Philippines —Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is seeking an inquiry on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the country’s basic education system, noting that there is a need to strengthen
Read more »