Negros oriental: The abaca industry in Negros Oriental is dwindling, prompting authorities to implement innovations and interventions to fortify the sector, an official said Tuesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Nena Locsin, provincial chief of the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA), stated that abaca production has sharply declined over the past five years since the Covid-19 pandemic.

"In 2020, we noticed that abaca production became less than in previous years due to pandemic restrictions, as well as land conversion, job migration, livelihood opportunities, and disease attacking the plants," Locsin said. She explained that many farmers and younger generations have shifted to jobs offering instant income, moving away from abaca production, which requires time and several processes before yielding returns.

The decline in the abaca industry is exacerbated by agricultural lands being converted to housing or business establishments and a harmful fungus infecting abaca plants. This fungus causes a soil-borne illness that affects the roots and vascular system, leading to wilting and death. Locsin noted that five years ago, 1,000 hectares of land were dedicated to abaca, but currently, only about 800 hectares remain. The production of sinamay, a fabric made from abaca fiber, has also dropped significantly from 300 tons a year to just 100 tons.

In response to this decline, FIDA, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, has undertaken various interventions to support the sector's recovery. FIDA has established a nursery in Pamplona town, distributing abaca plantlets and seeds to farmers free of charge. Additionally, tools and equipment, such as looms, have been distributed to weavers who transform abaca strips into sinamay. Chemicals are being used on abaca plants to ensure their recovery and survival, although certain villages, like Apolong and Lunga in Valencia, are exempted to prevent groundwater contamination.

Locsin highlighted that only one of the five loom weavers' associations in Bacong remains operational. "There is still plenty of work to do for the abaca industry to regain its glory, but we are hopeful that we will see improvement in the coming years as we continue to strengthen production while also encouraging farmers to engage in the trade," she said.