--

15(1)2025

Interaction and problems in the abaca industry in Region VIII, Philippines


Author - Affiliation:
Milagros C. Bales - Visayas State University, Baybay City, Leyte
Karen Luz P. Yap - Visayas State University, Baybay City, Leyte
Fatima T. Baliña - Visayas State University, Baybay City, Leyte
Leomarich F. Casinillo - Visayas State University, Baybay City, Leyte
Corresponding author: Leomarich F. Casinillo - leomarich.casinillo@vsu.edu.ph
Submitted: 20-12-2023
Accepted: 02-02-2024
Published: 08-08-2024

Abstract
This article aims to elucidate the level of interaction among the different players in the abaca business enterprise in Region VIII, Philippines. The study used a survey method that gathered primary data from farmers, Local Government Units (LGUs), traders, innovators from universities, processors, and non-government organizations. Appropriate sampling methods were employed in determining the sample sizes of different players, and the research instrument used to determine the interaction process is a developed questionnaire that involved a Likert scale. The data were analyzed using statistical measures such as count and average mean and presented in tabular form and network analysis. The results showed that abaca farmers have minimal to no interaction with the other key players except with the local traders. With that, the main problem for abaca farmers is the lack of innovative information to improve their production. Local traders interact with farmers moderately but have weak interaction with the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) in terms of provision for research, education, and support services, among others. LGUs moderately interact with farmers but have no interaction at all with other Abaca key players. Moreover, PhilFIDA staff only have a moderate interaction with abaca farmers, and local traders rarely interact with PhilFIDA staff. Likewise, PhilFIDA’s interaction with State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) is weak and SUCs have moderate interaction with farmers and the LGUs. Conclusively, the interactions among the players of the abaca industry are generally weak which can be strengthened through institutionalizing a system where stakeholders can work together for the common good and obtain a sustainable supply chain.

JEL codes
M10; M11; M31

Keywords
abaca industry; level of interaction; networking; players; problems

Full Text:
PDF

Cite this paper as:

Bales, M. C., Yap, K. L. P., Baliña, F. T., & Casinillo, L. F. (2025). Interaction and problems in the abaca industry in Region VIII, Philippines. Ho Chi Minh City Open University Journal of Science – Economics and Business Administration, 15(1), 3-19. doi:10.46223/HCMCOUJS.econ.en.15.1.3137.2025


References

Aguda, M. I. D., Amestoso, N. T., & Casinillo, L. F. (2022). Service quality and farmer-beneficiaries’ satisfaction on the plant-now-pay-later program of Baybay city Agriculture office. Review of Socio-Economic Research and Development Studies, 6(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6542683


Antwi-Agyei, P., & Stringer, L. C. (2021). Improving the effectiveness of agricultural extension services in supporting farmers to adapt to climate change: Insights from northeastern Ghana. Climate Risk Management, 32, Article 100304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2021.100304


Araya-Gutiérrez, D., Monge, G. G., Jiménez-Quesada, K., Arias-Aguilar, D., & Cordero, R. Q. (2023). Abaca: A general review on its characteristics, productivity, and market in the world. Revista Facultad Nacional de Agronomía Medellín, 76(1), 10263-10273.


Barbosa, C. F. C., Asunto, J. C., Koh, R. B. L., Santos, D. M. C., Zhang, D., Cao, E. P., & Galvez, L. C. (2023). Genome-wide SNP and indel discovery in Abaca (Musa textilis Née) and among other musa spp. for Abaca genetic resources management. Current Issues in Molecular Biology, 45(7), 5776-5797.  https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb45070365


Calica, G. B., Galapon, G. M. D., & Macaranas, R. J. P. (2024). Postproduction practices and marketing of Abaca in North Cotabato, Philippines. Valley International Journal Digital Library, 12(1), 5727-5734.


Casinillo, L., & Seriño, M. N. (2022) Econometric evidence on happiness and its determinants among rice farmers in Leyte, Philippines. Independent Journal of Management & Production, 13(5), 1026-1044. https://doi.org/10.14807/ijmp.v13i5.1597


Casinillo, L. F. (2022). Econometric analysis on rice farmers’ income as influenced by extension agent’s role. Scientific Papers: Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture & Rural Development, 22(4), 149-156.


Celestino, E. R., Sarmiento, G., & Bencio, J. (2016). Value chain analysis of abaca (Musa textiles) fiber in Northern Samar, Philippines. International Journal of Innovative Science, Engineering & Technology, 3(8), 151-169.


Davis, K. E., Makhija, S., & Spielman, D. J. (2021). Agricultural extension and rural advisory services: What have we learned? What’s next? https://scholar.google.com/citations? user=i0UEB5MAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra


Frieman, C. J., & Lewis, J. (2021). Trickle down innovation? Creativity and innovation at the margins. World Archaeology, 53(5), 723-740. https://doi.org/10.1080/00438243.2021.2014948


Knaggard, A., Slunge, D., Ekbom, A., Göthberg, M., & Sahlin, U. (2019). Researchers’ approaches to stakeholders: Interaction or transfer of knowledge? Environmental Science & Policy, 97, 25-35.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2019.03.008


Magno-Ballesteros, M., & Ancheta, J. A. (2020). The role of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) in agriculture value chain (No. 2020-24). PIDS Discussion Paper Series. https://www.econstor.eu/handle/10419/241013


Moscardini, A. O., Strachan, R., & Vlasova, T. (2022). The role of universities in modern society. Studies in Higher Education, 47(4), 812-830. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2020.1807493


Neef, A., & Neubert, D. (2011). Stakeholder participation in agricultural research projects: A conceptual framework for reflection and decision-making. Agriculture and Human Values, 28, 179-194.


Norton, G. W., & Alwang, J. (2020). Changes in agricultural extension and implications for farmer adoption of new practices. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 42(1), 8-20.  https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13008


Parac, E. P., Cruz, F. C. S., & Lalusin, A. G. (2021). Resistance reaction of Abaca (Musa textilis Nee) hybrids to bunchy top and establishment of disease severity rating scale for screenhouse screening. Governance, 3(2), 18-26.


Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PFIDA). (2023). Fiber statistics 2023. https://philfida.da.gov.ph/index.php/2016-11-10-03-32-59/2016-11-11-07-56-39


Pleños, M. C. F. (2022). Assessment of abaca fiber production in eastern Visayas provinces, Philippines. Scientific Papers: Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture & Rural Development, 22(3), 493-496.


Qin, T., Wang, L., Zhou, Y., Guo, L., Jiang, G., & Zhang, L. (2022). Digital technology-and-services-driven sustainable transformation of agriculture: Cases of China and the EU. Agriculture, 12(2), Article 297. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12020297


Quilatan, J. A. M. (2017). Determinants of the export demand for Philippine Abaca fiber. Journal of Academic Research, 2(2), 38-51.


Reed, G. F., Lynn, F., & Meade, B. D. (2002). Use of coefficient of variation in assessing variability of quantitative assays. Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, 9(6), 1235-1239. https://doi.org/10.1128/CDLI.9.6.1235-1239.2002


Salmorin, D. E., & Gepty, V. (2023). Cultural practices & beliefs in abaca farming of the indigenous people. Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Studies, 5(2), 22-32.


Shahri, W., Tahir, I., & Ahad, B. (2014). Abaca fiber: A renewable bio-resource for industrial uses and other applications. In K. Hakeem, M. Jawaid, & U. Rashid (Eds.), Biomass and bioenergy. Springer.


Tamsah, H., Yusriadi, Y., & Ilyas, G. B. (2022). Supply chain of agriculture extension agent quality. International journal of Information Technology Project Management, 13(2), 1-13.


Valenzona, R. M. P., Amestoso, N. T., & Casinillo, L. F. (2020). Assessing the success of farmers’ associations: The case of Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines. Journal of Agriculture and Technology Management, 23(1), 14-25.


Vijayalakshmi, K., Neeraja, C. Y., Kavitha, A., & Hayavadana, J. (2014). Abaca fibre. Transactions on Engineering and Sciences, 2(9), 16-19.



DOI: https://doi.org/10.46223/HCMCOUJS.econ.en.15.1.3137.2025
Creative Commons License
© The Author(s) 2025. This is an open access publication under CC BY NC licence.