TACLOBAN
CITY, July 27 (PNA) -– The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority
(PhilFIDA) is aiming to double the production of abaca planting materials with
the commitment of the new administration to embark on massive rehabilitation of
abaca farms infested by diseases.
PhilFIDA
regional director Wilardo Sinahon said they are mapping out plans on how to
maximize the production of disease-free planting materials from two existing
tissue culture laboratories in Eastern Visayas.
These are
located in a Department of Agriculture compound in Abuyog, Leyte; and National
Abaca Research Center at the Visayas State University (VSU), Baybay City.
“Despite
high demands, both laboratories currently produce half of their maximum
capacity due to lack of manpower and limited budget,” Sinahon said.
The Abuyog
and VSU facilities are capable of producing 10,000 and 20,000 plantlets
monthly, respectively.
“The concern
now is the source of clean planting materials. The plan is to get from other
provinces, but we have to check for the sources to ensure that planting
materials are disease-free,” Sinahon added.
Department
of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol recently announced a Php100 million
funding for the revival of abaca industry this year in Sogod, Southern Leyte
alone.
Part of the
funds will be for the enhanced production of plantlets in existing tissue
culture laboratories and make the similar facility inside the Southern Leyte
State University operational.
Out of the
Pp100 million, Php50 million is allotted for the immediate procurement of
planting materials, which will cover about 1,500 hectares.
The plan is
to immediately assist the farmers by buying planting materials from them using
the local abaca variety, which is thriving well in the area.
In addition
to free planting materials, the national government will also provide organic
fertilizers to recipient farmers in this town.
Sinahon is
very optimistic that with the Php100 million budget, Sogod will be able to
restore its production in the next few years.
“The fresh
funding support for this town is 14 times more than the current Php7 million
abaca disease eradication budget for the region’s six provinces,” he added.
Sogod is the
top abaca producing town in Southern Leyte with about 6,000 hectares devoted to
abaca cultivation. About 2,000 of 6,000 abaca farmers in the province are based
in Sogod. (PNA)
PGL/SARWELL Q. MENIANO
PGL/SARWELL Q. MENIANO
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