To meet the potential demand of abaca fibers for the pulp and paper industry, DOST-PCAARRD funded a project titled “Advanced Evaluation of Abaca Hybrids with High Fiber Yield and Resistance to Bunchy Top Virus in Selected Areas in Catanduanes, Bicol.” This project aims to evaluate the hybrid abaca planting stocks produced through tissue culture technique.
The project produced 10,000 BANDALA planting materials and established a two-hectare-abaca experimental farm in Bato in Selected Areas in Catanduanes Bicol. Brochures on good abaca nursery and field management were also developed. At the same time, training on abaca nursery and field management was also conducted at Panganiban and Bato, Catanduanes, and attended by 52 participants. The said training taught the steps used in abaca in-vitro propagation, nursery, and field management to the farmers from the two municipalities.