With the growing industry of Abaca production in the country, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in the province in partnership with the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority Region (PhilFIDA)-IX gathered more than sixty farmer-beneficiaries from various cooperatives of the Indarapatra Agrarian Community in Masiu town on May 3 for a Training on Sustainable Abaca Production.
The activity aimed to introduce to the local farmers the demand and supply situation of abaca industry as well as its planting and care management. Engr. Mesug P. Unda , Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II of DAR, talked about the essence and impact of abaca production not just in the socio-economic status of the agrarian partners but also in the environment as well.
Alex A. Jaducana, Phil FIDA IX chief of operations, introduced to the local farmers the abaca industry situation, its uses, applications and maximing potentials of investing in abaca farm while Senior Science Research Specialist Ferdinand C. Lazo and Phil FIDA IX Regulatory UnitHead Danilo C. Damiles talked about the Abaca farm care and maintenance and the harvest and post-harvest handling and management, respectively.
Masiu Mayor Nasser Pangandaman, on the other hand, encouraged the farmers to keep themselves abreast on modern farming by attending trainings and educational field-tour programs.
"Pud ko kapamgay sa lupa na so mga support services para pkhawmanan so sowa iyo sa kang-gilopa na patot mambo a psoportaan iyo so mga lagid aya a galbuk (distribution of lands are coupled with support services to increase your knowledge and skills in farming so you should cooperate in such activities like this)," said Mayor Pangandaman.
The 3-day training ended on May 5 with a educational field-tour at the Municipality of Calanogas to let the farmers see the processed fiber and products that can be produced from abaca and at the Municipality of Malabang to visit the abaca plantation of the Matling Cooperative. (Johaniah Yusoph/DAR-LDS/PIA-10)
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