Women coop members of Maligang Multi-Purpose Cooperative crafting their abaca-made floral decorations. Through the establishment of farm-to-market road in their community, their cooperative become more accessible to their prospect buyers, opening a wider market for their abaca products (Photo by Gian Enrique, PSO) PRDP-assisted coop in Sarangani ships abaca fiber to China
KIAMBA, SARANGANI- Abaca-made products from Kiamba, Sarangani are now available in China.
The United Maligang Multi-purpose Cooperative (UMFMPC), an abaca-producing farmers’ group in Barangay, Maligang in the said municipality, recently shipped various abaca commodities to Chinese soil.
Beverly Pacquiao, the coop treasurer, said that they sent to an undisclosed Chinese buyer 400 kilos of S2 fiber (140.00 per kilo) 1,694 kilos of hank type fiber (550.00 per kilo) and cake type fiber with 120 kilos (520.00 per kilo).
Although there is still no finite marketing agreement, Pacquiao noted that this opportunity is a start for an expansion in their enterprise.
“We were enticed to grab the trade opportunity because of the higher buying price compared to the price offered by the local market,” she added.
Pacquiao also said that additional production support is highly needed by the cooperative to meet the market demand of the Chinese buyer.
“Initially, their demand is eight to ten metric tons per month, and right now our produce is only at five to six metric tons,” she noted.
With the on-going implementation of the P35.7-Million Enhancement of Production, Processing and Marketing of High-Quality Abaca Fiber, Pacquiao is expecting for a boost in their production and marketing.
Out of this project, they already procured 74 units of portable stripping machine/dying to be used by their weavers and as well to cluster members all over Sarangani.
Under PRDP, abaca enterprise will operate across the province with six clusters. Two clusters will cover Kiamba, and one from each town of Maitum, Maasim, Alabel and Malungon, which will directly benefit 370 farmers. The cluster aims to produce a consolidated total of 107,000 kilograms of baled abaca every month.
Operations in charge Dante Tumaro said the main products for marketing will be the high-quality baled abaca fiber and tinagak, a special and fine abaca thread, which comes from 20 percent of the interior pulp of the abaca plant. Tinagak processing will employ 60 women members in Barangay Maligang, where a processing center will soon be built for them.
Aside from the processing center, they will also procure a six-wheeler hauling truck, one delivery truck; 56 units of heavy-duty spindle stripping machine; pressing machine for abaca baling and fork lift, among others. (Carl Ulysses Aguillon, RPCO 12-InfoACE Unit)
