The Abaca Activities of Jamindan FITS Center in 2011
For 2011, the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center based in Jamindan, Capiz led various activities to propagate, produce and promote abaca and the use of abaca fibers to benefit the livelihood of ruralfolk in the locality.
In coordination with the Capiz State University (CapSU) represented by Techno Gabay Team Leader Eduardo Navarra, the Jamindan FITS Center took various initiatives and made concerted efforts in coordination with key agencies to promote the use of the fiber.
The Jamindan FITS Center is composed of Remedios Llamelo, FITS Manager; Carlos Vipinosa, Technology Services Specialist; and Mary Grace Llanera, Information Services Specialist. Mr. Igmedio Llamelo is the Center’s Magsasaka Siyentista.
Abaca Propagation and Production
All-year round, the Center took initiatives to facilitate the upkeep and maintenance of their abaca nursery and plantation managed by former Municipal Agriculturist Igmedio Llamelo, who is the Center’s Magsasaka Siyentista (MS).
In May 2011, the Center distributed 800 corm suckers of abaca sourced from MS Nursery in barangay Jaena Norte and were distributed for free to the members of the farmers cooperative based in Sara, Iloilo. The recipients represented by Lina Palces are considered potential abaca growers referred in coordination with the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) represented by Mr. Nono Macahilo.
In the first quarter of 2011, the FITS Center’s abaca initiatives led by Rogelio Villaruel, FITS Center’s abaca coordinator, conducted spot weeding in the MS’s abaca nursery and plantation located in on a 5,000 sq.m land in barangay Jaena Norte.
In the second quarter, the Center hired five laborers for one day to lead the fertilization of the abaca plants. They used four bags of urea for the entire plantation. To facilitate the weeding, they used non-selective herbicide to control the growth of annual grasses in the surroundings. They also conducted spot weeding for the other areas.
For the fourth quarter, Mr. Villaruel employed five farm hands to harvest some 2,000 suckers from the same area. Selecting only from a number of plants in two areas—one in Jaena Norte and another in Esperanza—they extracted abaca fibers from matured bunches, and produced 60 kilograms of dried abaca fibers. In the same period, the harvest was able to provide some 9,000 suckers to the same cooperative.
In November 2011, the same farmers group in Sara, Iloilo was given some 2,000 more pieces of abaca suckers harvested within the week.
The said corms of abaca suckers were distributed to farmers outside Capiz including some 30 participants who are members of the Malubili farmers association based in Barbaza, Antique (who were given 1,600 pieces) and 20 farmer members of Sitio Nagbana, barangay Lipata, Barotac Nuevo, Ilolo (who were awarded 1,500 pieces).
Capability Building Activities
On August 25, 2011, the FITS Center led the training of some 25 women and out of school youth in barangay Jaena Norte on abaca skills. In coordination with FIDA represented by Juanito Macahilo and Antonio Castronuevo and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) represented by Ken Cuñada, the participants were taught abaca fiber knotting, sorting and packing. The fibers were later sold by the farmer participants in Kalibo, Aklan. The local government initially paid for the purchase of the materials used for their livelihood project and they are not expected to refund the local government.
In September 2011, some 25 out-of-school youth from barangay Poblacion and Jaena Norte were trained on abaca bag, décor and accessories making for three days.
A girl participant from Jaena Norte impressed the facilitators with her output; and therefore recommended her to produce a number of items for other projects. The training produced some 50 items including wine holder, bags, cellphone holder, coin purse and similar items. The capability building initiative sought the expertise of Negros-based product designer facilitated by DTI Capiz’s Ken Cuñada.
In various instances, the Jamindan FITS manager took active part in the coordination meetings and activities led by CapSU and WESVARRDEC.
In May 2011, CapSU brought abaca plants for exhibit during the first Regional Techno Gabay Summit and Technomart in Amigo Plaza Mall in Iloilo City. Manager Llamelo also attended PMA-FITS meetings in Dumalag in February and in Roxas City in November.
Production Team
Remedios Llamelo, FITS Manager
Rogelio Villaruel, Abaca Coordinator
Carlos Vipinosa, Technology Services Specialist
Mary Grace Llanera, Information Service Specialist
Eduardo Navarra, TG Team Leader
Niño Manaog, University Extension Associate
