Abaca: The country's premier natural fiber

THE Philippines holds the distinction of being the abaca capital of the world.
The reason for this: the country accounts for about 84 percent of the total world abaca fiber production. Such market dominance has made abaca one of its top dollar earners, contributing an average of US$76.8 million annually in export earnings during the last decade.

"The abaca industry is of particular importance as it supports the livelihood of around 140,000 abaca farm workers and strippers, as well as 78,00o small farmers with approximately more than 430,000 dependents and 143,429 strippers," a report from the Department of Science and Technology said. "The fiber craft industry, which produces bags, rugs, placemats, hats, hot pads, coasters, yarns, and hand-woven fabrics, provides livelihood to rural women and out-of-school youths."

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Because of its economic importance, the government is pushing for abaca's further development. "We have to push all commercial uses of abaca. Once fully developed, this industry can be a huge driver of economic and jobs growth," said Senator Loren Legarda, who chairs the Senate committee on economic affairs.

But for how long the country will dominate the global abaca market, no one can predict. Some countries, including Ecuador, are already etching to dislodge the country of its supremacy.

This is bad news as the abaca industry in the country is not doing well. This was the finding of the study entitled, "Supply Chain of Abaca Fiber in Selected Areas in the Philippines: Phase 1." It was funded by the Laguna-based Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources Research and Development (Pcarrd).

The study found that the abaca fiber production has been relatively stagnant. "Although abaca is indigenous to the Philippines, its production cannot seem to catch up with local and international consumption," it disclosed.

Data from the National Statistical Coordination Board showed that abaca export has declined at the rate of 2.8 per year primarily due to its declining average yield. In addition, the annual growth of abaca fiber production (0.37 percent) could not keep up with the annual growth of domestic abaca fiber consumption (1.32 percent).

Domestic consumption of abaca fiber is largely accounted for by processing sectors, particularly (1) pulp, (2) cordage, yarns, and twines, and (3) fiber crafts and fabric manufacturers. Low abaca productivity appears to be the core problem of the industry, according to country's major supply chains of abaca fiber.

Three factors have been attributed to the poor quality of abaca fibers: (1) fibers are not classified at farm level due to inadequate technical knowledge, (2) the abaca stripping device is not used, and (3) storage/post-harvest facility is lacking.

Another layer in the multifarious problems of the abaca industry is inadequate extension service, poor roads, and high transportation cost. "These logistical issues affect the efficiency and flexibility of the supply chain and in turn, influence the nature, characteristics and condition of the abaca fiber while in transit to the final customer," the study said.

Disease infestation also adds to the diminishing abaca production. Industry insiders say three main diseases, the abaca bunchy top, abaca mosaic and abaca bract mosaic continue to wreak havoc on thousands of hectares of abaca plantations: In Samar and Leyte alone, around 26,000 hectares of land planted to abaca are reportedly affected by these diseases.

The gross demand-supply mismatch, the Pcarrd-funded study cautioned, can have a serious implication on the country's export if not promptly augmented, especially in the light of the growing abaca industry in competing countries.

Known worldwide as Manila hemp, abaca is obtained from a tree-like banana plant, scientifically called Mussa textiles. It is indigenous to the Philippines but is also found in Borneo, Indonesia and Central America.

Manila hemp replaced bark, which was once the primary source of cloth before the Europeans arrived in the Philippines. It was not until 1685 that abaca was known in the western world. In 1820, John White brought few abaca fibers to the United States. By 1825, importation of abaca fiber took place.

But on the onrush of modern technology, abaca was relegated to the background. Only to be brought back again in recent years, thanks to the global shortage of many natural resources and the pollution being wrought by synthetic products on the environment.

Former Davao City councilor Leo Avila reported that some countries are now using abaca as a substitute for plastic bags, nylon ropes, and fiberglass for some cars. "The use of nylon ropes for example is now changed with ropes made from abaca. People have the difficulty in disposing nylon ropes, while with abaca, they can recycle it and utilize it again," he said.

Abaca fiber is superior over all other fibers of its class because of its great strength and its resistance to the action of water. Considered the strongest of natural fibers, it is three times stronger than cotton. No wonder, it is the cordage of choice for ropes used in oil dredging or exploration, navies and merchant shipping.

Because of its strength and unusual durability, the fibers are also used in making currency papers and weatherproof bristols, industrial papers like power cable papers, insulating boards for motors; vacuum clear bags, tape papers, absorbent saturating papers (used for gasket work), sack papers, and abrasive base papers.

Unknowingly, the enzyme of abaca is now being widely used in cosmetics, particularly in the production of organic, hand-crafted therapeutic skin care products such as soap and beauty cream. Abaca soap, which has anti-ageing and therapeutic properties, is now marketed in the United States, Japan, and even Europe.

In the Philippines, the abaca fibers are used in fishing nets, as they are particularly resistant to salt water. Abaca cords can be found aboard almost any marine vessel because of this trait. In addition, the country's Central Bank is using 20 percent abaca for its 200, 500 and 1,000 peso bills.

Abaca is grown in 48 provinces with Catanduanes as the country's top abaca producer. Its estimated fiber production from January to May 2010 is 14,140 metric tons, according to the regional office of the Fiber Industry Development Authority.

The nine other provinces in the top 10 producers are Leyte, Southern Leyte, Northern Samar, Davao Oriental, Surigao del Sur, Davao del Sur, Sulu, Sorsogon, and Western Samar.