EVAL Cluster Philippines Vol1-Abaca
EVAL Cluster Philippines Vol1-Abaca
EVAL Cluster Philippines Vol1-Abaca
Annex Volume 1
Completion Report
On
By
S.E. CUEVAS
Submitted By
Table of Contents
II. INTRODUCTION................................................................................5
Period and place(s) of evaluation...........................................................................5
Composition of the evaluation team ......................................................................5
V. IMPLEMENTATION ANALYSIS......................................................13
Management of the projects and their activities.................................................13
Timeliness of implementation, achieving milestones..........................................13
Factors favourable to project implementation .....................................................13
Appropriateness of adjustments made during implementation............................13
Realisation of co-financing and counterpart commitments .................................13
Adherence to budgets...........................................................................................13
VIII. RECOMMENDATIONS....................................................................16
REFERENCES...........................................................................................17
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List of Annex
Annex A. Key Informants and Persons Contacted ........................................................ 18
List of Figures
Figure 1. Knife with roller guide ..................................................................................... 6
Figure 2. Knife with blade guide ..................................................................................... 6
Figure 3. Roller support for stalk..................................................................................... 7
Figure 4. Abaca mechanical tuxer ................................................................................... 7
Figure 5. Autofed decorticating machine......................................................................... 8
Figure 6. Maguindanao variety (with bunchy top and mosaic virus inset)................. 10
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I. Executive Summary
Main Findings
The project Abaca: Improvement of Fiber Extraction and Identification of
Higher Yielding Varieties was implemented by the Philippine government
through the Fiber Industry Development Authority of the Department of
Agriculture. United Nations Industrial Development Organization and FAO-
Intergovernmental Group on Hard Fibers supported it. The project aimed to
improve production of abaca fibers in producing countries such as the
Philippines through improvement in the efficiency of fiber extraction,
identification and selection of disease-tolerant and high yielding varieties, and
dissemination of project results.
The project achieved the development of mechanical tuxer and autofed
decorticating machine. These machines may fit in large Abaca farms like that of
Ecuador, but not the small abaca farms In the Philippines. The project was able
to identify several varieties that are disease-tolerant and high yielding, but
generally they are location specific. The findings could be further improved
through direct participation of abaca farmers in the Philippines in a farmer-
scientist research and extension program on abaca. Table 1 presents the logical
framework of the project summarizing the accomplishments and the
recommended further actions of the project.
Lessons Learnt
1. To improve efficiency in abaca fiber production, attention should be directed
at improving the performance reliability of machines through appropriate
changes in the technical design.
2. The high yielding and disease resistance characters of abaca varieties / clones
have regional or location variations.
3. Farmers generally prefer machines that are portable, fuel efficient, and
affordable.
Major Recommendations
1. The performance reliability of the mechanical tuxer should be improved,
redesigned to fit into a series of machines with the leafsheath separator and
improved spindle machine at the other side.
2. The autofed decorticating machine should be re-designed to accommodate
the full length of abaca leafsheath, with a feature that would separate the
layers of primary and secondary fibers. Have it portable size and fuel-
efficient.
3. Pursue the continuing selection of disease-tolerant and high-yielding abaca
varieties in all regions with cooperation of state colleges of agriculture and
implemented on a participatory approach with farmer-scientist. Use tissue-
cultured materials that are properly indexed as disease free.
4. Use the Farmers Manual in redesigning the training component.
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II. Introduction
The evaluation started with a visit-meeting with key officers of the Fiber
Industry Development Authority (FIDA) on September 22, 2006, and a meeting
with the Director together with her key staff who were involved in the
implementation of FC/INT/97/021 Abaca: Improvement of Fiber Extraction
and Identification of Higher Yielding Varieties, on October 20, 2006 at the
FIDA Central Office in Quezon City, Metro Manila. The consultant-evaluator
obtained the following documents from FIDA:
1. The project agreement,
2. appraisal report,
3. project proposal,
4. folder of the schedule of activities and accomplishment report,
5. proceedings of dissemination seminars,
6. final technical report, and
7. farmers manual on abaca production
After reading the documents, it was followed by visit to some project sites in
Leyte (Visayas) and Davao and South Cotabato (Mindanao) on October 26 to
November 2, 2006. Interviews of some people who are familiar with the project
output were conducted and a discussion with key staff of FIDA was done.
On November 8, 2006, another follow-up meeting with the key staff involved in
the project was held in the central office of FIDA.
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The performance testing of the improved tools indicate that they are
user friendly, but may not be significantly more efficient than the
traditional knife, and therefore need further introduction to and
testing by the intended beneficiaries the abaca farmers.
The mechanical tuxer is effective in producing tuxy at higher
recovery than the manual method. However, the cost of producing
tuxy per kg is higher by 450 percent.
The intended beneficiaries of improved tools and equipment are the
fiber stripper, particularly the tuxedor, if they are working as a team.
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The result of developing improved tuxying tools and machine did not
increase the efficiency of abaca fiber production. But it was able to
develop prototypes that maintain the quality of fiber output. The
protypes could be tested for further improvement to attain the desired
efficiency.
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V. Implementation Analysis
Management of the projects and their activities
The original proposal has project duration of 51 months, but the actual
implementation lasted for 70 months. The record of schedule of activities and
accomplishment reports showed different durations of the periodic report. The
budget releases and expenditures on the project was not in any of the reports
provided to the evaluator.
Monitoring at the project management level would have been easier and more
effective, had the expenditures and budget releases could be seen vis--vis the
activity schedules and resulting accomplishments
Adherence to budgets
The final technical report indicated the same total budget as in the original
proposal, in spite of the project extension. The project must adhere to the
budget.
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VIII. Recommendations
1. The performance reliability of the mechanical tuxer should be improved,
redesigned to fit into a series of machines with the leafsheath separator and
improved spindle machine at the other side.
2. The autofed decorticating machine should be re-designed to accommodate
the full length of abaca leafsheath, with a feature that would separate the
layers of primary and secondary fibers. Have it portable size and fuel-
efficient.
3. Pursue the continuing selection of disease-tolerant and high-yielding abaca
varieties in all regions with cooperation of state colleges of agriculture and
implemented on a participatory approach with farmer-scientist. Use tissue-
cultured materials that are properly indexed as disease free.
4. Use the Farmers manual in designing the training component.
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References
1. CFC-UNIDO-FIDA Project On Abaca: Schedule of Activities and
Accomplishment Reports. A folder file at FIDA Central Office. Quezon City
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15. Ms. Fe. C. Espena, Sr Agriculturist, FIDA Eastern Visayas Regional Fiber
Expt. Station (EVRFES}
16. Mr. Victor A. Romero, OIC, FIDA Eastern Visayas Regional Fiber Expt. Station
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24. Dr. Juanito B. Sangalang, Genetic Resources Specialist and Perennial Crop
Breeder, Formerly of the Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture
U.P. Los Banos, College, Laguna
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