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A farmers’ group on Sunday urged the government to provide relief for abaca farmers in Catanduanes, citing the “widespread devastation” of Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) in the province also known as the abaca capital of the Philippines.
“Catanduanes accounts for 80 percent of Bicol’s abaca production, with at least 21,500 hectares of land dedicated to the crop,” said Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) in a statement.
As defined by the Department of Science and Technology website, abaca, otherwise known as Manila hemp, “with the scientific name Musa textilis, is a natural leaf fiber species of banana grown as a commercial crop native in the country.”
The affected farmers, however, are now asking for “immediate interventions, including disaster relief, compensation and recovery funds” after Pepito made landfall over the municipality of Panganiban on Saturday.
