The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) have launched different programs to boost cotton production and support “inabel” weaving in Ilocos Norte.
The inabel’s pure cotton material is a known agricultural product of the province. However, slow cotton production which sometimes happens in the province affects the local weaving tradition due to the need to import raw materials abroad.
“Ang Lumbaan Weavers and Cotton Producers Cooperative po ay isang grupo ng mga naghahabi at nagtatanim ng bulak dito po sa Pinili, Ilocos Norte,” cooperative manager Marife Pidot said.
“Ito ay galing sa isang asosasyon, ito ang Manlilikha ng Bayan. Ang Manlilikha ng Bayan ay na-convert bilang isang kooperatiba sa tulong ng PhilFIDA,” she added.
The cooperative has 35 members consisting of weavers and farmers who are now able to alternately plant and harvest palay and cotton through government assistance.
Each hectare of cotton field has an equivalent of P17,500 worth assistance from the PhilFIDA. This aid includes cotton seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, sprayers, water pumps, and hose. There is also free training and technical assistance offered by PhilFIDA.
“Nagbibigay rin sila ng training kung paano magtanim at palaguin ang mga tanim naming cotton,” Pidot said.
“At kapag harvest na, ang ani sa lahat ng production areas sa Ilocos Norte, sa Pangasinan ay may product integration budget na ibinibigay sa coop namin para pambayad sa mga cotton farmers,” she added.
The biggest project expected to boost cotton processing and support the weaving industry in the province is the establishment of Ilocos cotton processing center which began in 2019.
The facility has various machines and equipment for a faster and pure processing of thread from cotton yarns. The Natural Dyeing House Weaving Center was also established in 2020 containing five handlooms used to color cotton yarns
“Sa ngayon ay meron kaming 29 tonelada o lint na pwede gawing sinulid na magagamit sa paghahabi. Ang volume na ito ay pwedeng makagawa ng 24.6 na tonelada na yarn na pwedeng magamit para makagawa ng 23.4 tonelada na tela” she said.
“Kaya kung ating titignan, may sapat na sana na raw material. Kaya lang po, dahil sa pandemya, hindi pa po fully operational ang ating processing center,” she added.
To address water system problems, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) started in 2020 the P20 million worth irrigation project in Pinili town which is set to be operational in December this year.
The construction of the second phase of Ilocos Cotton Processing Center is also ongoing for uninterrupted operations.
“Makukumpleto namin ‘yung chain mula sa pagtatanim, sa pag-process ng raw materials hanggang maka-produce kami ng tela, isang produkto na pwede naming ipagmalaki,” she said. – (PTV, DA)/AG-rir
