Community-Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR) on the Enhancement of the ABACA (Musa Textiles Nee) Production System in Las Navas, Northern Samar, Philippines

Abstract

Community-Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR) on the Enhancement of the Abaca Production in Las Navas, Northern Samar, is a technical extension service, intervention designed to respond to the pressing problems of the abaca industry. This author tapped by the Ching Bee Trading Corporation (CBT) - a private abaca fiber export company, inspired by its sincere commitment in alleviating the low abaca production in Northern Samar viewed in a previous five-year productivity status survey.  Iidentifying key challenges, assessing existing practices, and developing innovative solutions, this study seeks to improve the livelihoods of local farmers and contribute to sustainable agricultural development. Data collection involved interviews, surveys, and observations, followed by analysis of the findings. The results revealed significant constraints related to abaca fiber quality, pests, and limited access to markets. Based on these findings, recommendations for improving abaca cultivation practices and strengthening value chains were developed. The project's success in fostering community engagement and capacity building has paved the way for further initiatives to promote sustainable agriculture in the province and region. The compelling outcome of declining fiber production for the last five years came into a condition compromising the fiber production and quality, prompted Ching Bee Trading Corporation to invest on an intervention directly in the countryside as a way of helping our abaca farmers together with the other stakeholders in finding solutions to revitalize the industry, hence this study. This CBPAR project in order to concretize its impacts and attain its vision, goals and objectives adopted these approach: 1.) the need to expand community-based managed abaca nurseries into an individual contract abaca growing; 2.) the conduct of a study on the physical characterization of local abaca varieties in Las Navas (Collection and Germplasm establishment); 3.) Geotagging of specific areas of production source of these local varieties in Las Navas (to preserve indigenous varieties) ; and  4.) continue  the Capability Building and Education Program to sustain farmers commitment and enthusiasm in supporting some initiated projects.