Thursday, March 08, 2007 Fiber agency pushes 2 programs to boost abaca production By Joy Romares-Sevilla
THE Fiber Industry Development Authority (Fida) is pushing for two more major programs this year to develop and maintain the abaca industry, not only in Davao Region, but also in the Socsksargen area.
Dr. Olympio Macarayan, Fida regional director, said the agency will focus more on the research and development and regulatory programs this year.
Under the research and development program are the measures on how to control the pest and diseases in abaca plants. It also includes the post and harvest facilities and research on seedbank stations.
"We wish here for the conduct of marketing studies, but as of now, we don't have marketing studies because we don't have enough human resources to conduct the studies. But, actually, the marketing aspect should be shouldered by other units of agency," Macarayan said.
The regulatory programs, on the other hand, include the routinary activities on the regulation of fibers' quality.
"Before the fiber will be exported, it will pass on certain inspection processes," Macarayan said, adding that the process will not take too long since the inspectors are checking the fibers through random sampling.
At present, the major importer of abaca fibers are the United States of America, Japan, and United Kingdom. However, China, Taiwan, and the Middle East, are also establishing their demand in abaca fiber.
