Tuesday, January 15, 2008 Abaca players to discuss proposed roadmap By Joy Romares-Sevilla
BUYERS, manufacturers, producers, and farmers involved in the abaca industry will meet next month to discuss proposal of the Davao City Abaca Council (DCAC) for the industry to come up with an abaca roadmap.
City Councilor Leo Avila in Monday's Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM Entertainment Plaza, said, the DCAC proposal will be very significant in identifying activities and programs needed to develop the abaca industry in Davao City.
"We will invite the Fiber Industry Development Authority (Fida)-Southern Mindanao, the City Agriculture Office, producers, buyers, manufacturers, and representatives from the different farms to attend the meeting," Avila said.
Representatives from the academe sector will also be invited.
Avila claimed that there is a growing demand for abaca not only in the local market, but also in the world market.
"We should promote the expansion of natural fibers like abaca in response to the clamor for more production. In Germany, big car manufacturers are now using abaca for the fiber glass of their cars, also they come up with a clothing material na ginagamit ng mga athletes," Avila said.
He added that 2009 will be the year of the fibers since its demand in the market is growing high.
"At present, the local buying price of abaca is P52 per kilogram compared several years ago with only P14. Its price will go even higher," Avila said.
Meanwhile, Avila claimed that his proposal of expanding 5,000 hectares of abaca in Davao City is reachable.
He said the city government of Davao backs his proposal by expanding the tissue culture laboratory at the City Agriculture Office, which will propagate more disease-free abaca planting materials.
Avila earlier said that Davao City has more than 45,000 hectares of abaca in the 1980s. At present, there's only more or less 700 hectares of abaca due to abaca diseases. (JGRS)
