Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Fida to start distribution of abaca planting materials
THE Fiber Industry Development Authority (Fida) in Southern Mindanao will start the distribution of abaca clean planting materials next year.
Dr. Olympio Macarayan, Fida-Southern Mindanao regional director, said that Fida has already started to culture planting materials at the first Fida-owned tissue culture laboratory in Bago Oshiro, Davao City.
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"We will start to distribute the planting materials to farmers next year, maliliit pa kasi ang planting materials," Macarayan told Sun.Star Davao.
He said the initial production of planting materials is expected to reach 5,000 to 7,000 plantlets. He, however, added that this will increase in the coming years.
"Next year, maybe we can increase the target to 10,000 to 15,000 plantlets," Macarayan said, adding that the Fida laboratory has the capacity to culture 20,000 plantlets.
Macarayan also said they can see the interest of the farmers to get planting materials from the laboratory.
"Farmers are very eager, they never stop asking when they can get planting materials," he said.
When ask how the Fida tissue culture laboratory differs from the government-owned tissue culture laboratory in Malagos, Macarayan said the laboratory in Malagos has the capacity to culture 10,000 abaca plantlets.
"This is because the laboratory in Malagos also cultures banana. I understand that Councilor Leo Avila, who campaigns for abaca hectarage expansion in the city, has plans to expand the laboratory this year to culture more abaca plantlets," he said. (JGRS)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (June 17, 2008 issue)
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