Harvesting, Post-Harvest Handling, and Marketing of Fiber Crops

 Abaca. The first harvest of abaca starts 18 to 20 months after initial planting. When the flower begin to appear the stalks are ready for harvesting. Mature abaca consist of of a group or cluster of 12 to 30 or more stalks. Cutting is done 6 to 8cm from the root crown.
The stalks undergo the following processes in extracting the abaca fibers.
1. Piling. the harvested stalks are piled in a convenient place where they can be immediately splitted into tuxies.
2. Striping. this can be done either by hand or by machine.
3. Drying. Fibers can either be sun-dried or air-dried in a shaded area free from other foreign particles.
4. Grading and storing. The fiber are grouped and tied according to their  class and stored in a safe place or processed into rope or any finished product.


Cotton. The first picking of cotton balls is done four months after sowing, and subsequently at five to seven days interval. Cotton balls are mature when these turn brown, cracks can be seen.

Pineapple. Harvesting pineapple leaves for fiber production is done when the plants starts to bear fruits. Mature leaves at the base of the plant are harvested first.

Ramie. Harvesting ramie can be done two to three months after planting. The entire plants are cut close to the ground with a sharp bolo. The stalks are piled in small bundles and the outer layer of the bark is immediately removed or decorticated.

Jute. In harvesting jute for fiber, the stems are cut near the roots or pulled by hand. The stems are then bundled into convenient sizes for retting. In retting process, the stems are soaked in a chemically treated solution to loosen the fibers from the woody tissue.

Marketing Fibers
Fibers are either marketed domestically or internationally. High-grade abaca and cotton are exported while low-grade fibers are excellent raw materials for local producers of ropes, strings, fabrics, slippers, bags, placemats, sacks, decorative items, and other finished products.


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