ABACA Activities in the Philippines - Unido

Ref. No. CFC/FIGHF/09 CFC/UNIDO/FIDA 6
Three experienced tuxeros were employed. Since fiber extraction in the
area is done manually, all the tuxeros were trained in operating the mechanical tuxer
and the spindle stripping machine. They were then asked to manually tuxy a total of
300 kgs of abaca stalks equivalent to about 21 stalks. The same volume of stalks
was used in tuxying employing the mechanical tuxer. For verification purposes, both
tests were repeated.
3.3 Development of abaca decorticating machine
3.3.1 Evaluation of ramie decorticator
Extraction of ramie fiber using a decortication machine was observed and
performance parameters were measured.
3.3.2 Preparation of design
As in mechanical tuxer, the preparation of design for the abaca decorticating
machine was guided by international expert, Andrew Metianu, and national expert,
Eugene Castro.
3.3.3 Fabrication of prototypes
Guided by the design criteria, three models of abaca decorticating machine
were prepared: study, working and final models. Fabrication was subcontracted to
MIRDC. The study model after fabrication was subjected to functionality test in the
laboratory. Based on the results of the test, a working model was designed,
fabricated, tested in the laboratory, modified as necessary, and tested in the field.
The final model incorporated the modifications observed as needed based on the
field evaluation of the working model. It, likewise, underwent similar process, that
is; from the preparation of design to fabrication, laboratory testing, modification, and
field testing. The field testing of the working model was done in the FIDA abaca
seedbank in Casiguran, Sorsogon. Sixty abaca stalks of the variety Musa Tex 51
were used. For the final model, field testing was conducted in Sitio Lip-ac,
Barangay Catagbacan, Goa, Camarines Sur.
The machine was set up and several feeding tests were conducted. When
the machine appeared to be ready, test runs were undertaken. The test runs were
done in three sets. In each set, 400 abaca stalks were used. The duration and reason
for stoppages in each run were recorded. The weight of the fiber produced was taken
the following day after drying.
3.4 Characteristics of decorticated abaca fiber
3.4.1 Gathering of samples
All the fibers used in the characterization analyses were produced during
the testing of the working model of the decorticating machine in Sorsogon.