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Monday, June 27, 2005
Coastal own makes US-standard 'geotextile'
MAITUM, Sarangani -- A former American-owned coconut plantation now ran by a farmers' cooperative in Barangay Old Poblacion here has been producing "geotextile" for infrastructure projects in Mindanao.
The Fleischer Estate Integrated Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Feimco) "is presently very active in producing high-value products from (coconut) fiber," according to the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Provincial Office.
"Technically the fiber quality produced by the cooperative is much better than the US standard per evaluation of the Department of Science and Technology," a PCA briefer said.
The coconut fiber mat or geotextile recently gained prominence at the Agraryo Trade Fair 2005 at the SM Megamall Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong City, according to the national newspaper.
The same paper said geotextile "created a big stir" because the coconut fiber mat "was considered as one of the success stories at the Agraryo Trade Fair 2005."
The same product recently won for the Philippines an award at the World Expo 2005 in Japan for a technological innovation that uses coconut fiber against soil erosion and flooding.
"Geotextile", which is made from coconut fibers, degrades naturally at a rate that allows plants to "recolonize" the soil.
The PCA in Sarangani said it has "provided training and equipment for fiber production activities" at Feimco.
A marketing collaboration between the cooperative and the Department of Agrarian Reform was also facilitated by PCA.
The geotextiles are sold for P120 per square meter.
Feimco, once owned by the Fleischer family is the largest coconut plantation in this town and was awarded to a small coconut farmers' organization through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. (Sarangani Information Office)
For Bisaya stories from General Santos.Click here. (This section is updated every Monday)
(June 27, 2005 issue)
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