P15-M abaca fiber warehouse to rise in Mindanao

In a report published by caraga.da.gov.ph, the Department of Agriculture (DA)–Caraga recently led the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of P15 million worth of abaca fiber warehouse with a drying area at Santiago, Agusan del Norte in Mindanao.

Image grabbed from daprdp.net

DA’s Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) provided funding to the San Isidro Upland Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SIUFMULCO) with a total approved project cost of P31 million, wherein P16 million is allotted for the enterprise development component.

According to Leonora Mila, General Manager of SIUFMULCO, “with this project, farmers will be more inspired, and idler lands will be planted with abaca.”

In addition, Philippine News Agency cited that there are at least 600 abaca farmers under the cooperative, which are grouped into five clusters all over Agusan del Norte’s municipalities of Santiago, Nasipit, RTR, Kitcharao and Cabadbaran City.

Planting materials, organic fertilizer, nursery, and stripping machines will be equally distributed to the cluster areas as part of the provision of the project package.

With this, the project targets to boost abaca fiber production due to its great demand in the world market as its material is used for making security papers, paper money, ropes, insulators and other handicraft items.

Source: caraga.da.gov.ph, Philippine News Agency, daprdp.net