DA-PHILFIDA TURNS-OVER P8.5-M PROCESSING AND POST-HARVEST FACILITIES TO 5 COOPS FACILITIES TO 5 COOPS

The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA), turned over last March 7/Tuesday some P8.5-million worth of processing and post-harvest facilities to five farmers’ cooperatives for the commercial production of pineapple fibers at the Malacañang Palace.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol noted during remarks at the turnover ceremony, attended by President Rodrigo R. Duterte himself, that despite the huge demand and recognition from other countries for Pineapple leaf fiber the commercialization of pineapple fiber by-products in the country has not been maximized.

The Philippines has an estimated 60,000 hectares planted with pineapple. However, most of the leaves of the matured pineapple are just left in the field to rot and serve as fertilizer,Piñol lamented.

On December 2016, a group from Nonwoven Fabrics Philippines Inc. (NFPI), makers of Piñatex substrate and Ananas Anam Ltd., who convertsPiñatex substrate into leader alternative material, met Piñol to express their interest to buy more pineapple leaves from suppliers in the Philippines.

“With this development, hundreds of tons of Pineapple Leaves which were left in the field to rot in the past can now be the source of income for poor farmers to be able to send their children to school,” Piñol informed President Duterte.
Piñol directed PhilFIDA to actively coordinate with Nonwoven Fabrics Philippines Inc. the production of fibers from waste pineapple leaves. PhilFIDA also identify the five cooperatives that will supply pineapple fibers to NFPI.

To meet the volume requirement for the initial demand of 50 tons of pineapple fibers in 2017, PhilFIDA is providing various agricultural machineries to the following beneficiaries:
• Adventurers Multipurpose Cooperative in Polomolok, South Cotabato
o   10 units of Multi-fiber Decorticating Machine (MFDM) with safety mechanisms
o   1 unit Mechanical Dryer
o   1 unit Baling Machine

• T’boli Farm Growers Multipurpose Cooperative in Tiboli, South Cotabato
o   5 units MFDM with safety mechanisms
o   1 unit Mechanical Dryer
o   1 unit Baling Machine

• Shalom Fiber Growers Association in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon
o   10 units MDM with safety mechanisms
o   1 unit Mechanical Dryer
o   1 unit Baling Machine 

• Maduvika Farmer’s Cooperative in Sta. Ana, Cagayan
o   5 units MFDM with safety mechanisms
o   1 unit Mechanical Dryer

• Labo Progressive Multipurpose Cooperative in Labo, Camarines Norte
o   1 unit Baling Machine

Piñatex substrates are converted into Piñatex leather alternative material by Ananas Anam Ltd., and has been utilized in making seat covers for major car manufacturing companies and stylish bags, among other products. # Source - (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)/www.dilg.gov.ph