CADLAN, PILI, Camarines Sur -- The provincial government has expanded its abaca nursery farms located in the towns of Caramoan and Presentacion from the previous 8 to 28 hectares to further boost the Abaca Propagation Project of the province, a program which would not only serve as impetus to farmers and investors to venture into this high value crop but also provide job opportunities to the local folks.

        The prevailing price per kilo of abaca fiber is currently on a dramatic upsurge, ranging from P75.00 to P100.00 per kilo depending on the fiber grade compared to previous several years when price of this raw fiber just averaged around P 30.00. Furthermore, the current production of this cordage material is just not enough to meet the demand of both local and international markets.

        Hence, Governor LRay Villafuerte is urging local farmers as well as investors to venture into this high value crop because of the immense opportunities like higher return on investment (ROR) and market for the product is not much of a problem.

        Abaca project leader Felipe Vargas of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) disclosed that the provincial government has already a total of 18 hectares nursery farms including the expansion areas planted with abaca at Hanopol, Caramoan while in Presentacion, of the 10 hectares earmarked for nursery farms, 5 hectares have been planted while the remaining 5 will soon be ready for sowing. The nursery farms are crucial to the province’s abaca propagation program as major source of planting materials.

        The provincial government’s abaca propagation venture targets more than 2,000 hectares of idle forestland, mostly located in the towns of Caramoan and Presentacion.

        The success of the Abaca Propagation Program initiated by Governor Villafuerte would contribute immensely to province’s goal to improve the quality of life in the countryside and at the same time transform denuded forest areas into productive and verdant lands. snieves