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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider New Bandala hybrid to boost abaca industry

New Bandala hybrid to boost abaca industry

Published Dec 9, 2020 02:36 pm

A newly-created abaca hybrid is set to boost the country's abaca industry. 

Resistant to the abaca bunchy top virus (ABTV), tolerant to drought, and produces quality fibers, the Backcross Abaca with Native and Desirable Accessions to Lift Up the Abaca Industry (BANDALA) was developed by the Institute of Plant Breeding of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).

(Photo from Crops Research Division (CRD), PCAARRD/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Funded by the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), the BANDALA  fibers are then processed into fabric and other products by the Philippine Textile Research Institute of the DOST (DOST-PTRI).  

Currently, the country dominates the global abaca trade as it supplies 87.5 percent of the world’s fiber demands according to the Philippine Abaca Industry Roadmap 2018–2022. 

DOST-PCAARRD said the BANDALA hybrid can be processed into yarn, fabric, and textile. 

DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, said that BANDALA has fiber characteristics that can be used in manufacturing textile and is an environment-friendly material compared with other fiber sources.

The raw BANDALA fibers, sourced from Virac, Catanduanes were subjected to physical and chemical tests for moisture content, tensile strength, and cellulose content, among other traits. The fibers also underwent cutting, opening, and blending with cotton staples. A pure BANDALA fiber weighing 24 kilograms can produce an estimated 200 yards of fabrics and much more if blended with cotton staple fibers.

According to the Philippine Abaca Industry Roadmap 2018–2022, about 60 percent of abaca plantations in the Bicol region is found in Catanduanes, which contributes 35 percent of the total abaca production in the country, followed by Davao Oriental.

DOST-PCAARRD said that the development of BANDALA can help the textile industry in securing quality fibers for clothing as well as other industries, such as the automotive and pulp and paper industries. 

Recently, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations reported that abaca can be used as filling material for bolster and interior trim parts, as well as an alternative material for glass fiber.

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