Productivity Improvement

• Genetic Resource Enhancement, Characterization, Evaluation, Conservation and Database
• Development of High Yielding, Pest Resistant and Stress Tolerant Abaca Varieties with Good Quality Fibers Suited to Specific End Uses
• Performance Evaluation of Promising Abaca Accessions and Hybrids
• Biotechnology-assisted Development of Abaca Varieties for Resistance to Abaca Bunchy Top Virus (ABTV) and Abaca Mosaic Virus (AMV)
• Integrated Pest Management with Emphasis on Biological Control
• Integrated Soil and Nutrient Management including Soil Conditioning and Bioremediation
• Crop Modeling
• Planting Materials Production and Supply System
• Management Strategies for Smallholder Abaca Production

Postharvest Processing, Product Development/Improvement and Diversification

• Development and/or Improvement of Postharvest Processing and Utilization Technologies
  • primary and secondary tools, machines and gadgets
  • postharvest storage practices
• Development of Technical and Industrial Products from Abaca Fibers and Wastes (non-structural car parts, structural composites, textiles, GEO textile, packaging materials, and substitute for fiberglass)

Information and Knowledge Product Management

• Development of State-of-the-Art for Abaca Technologies
• Development of Abaca Information System
• Establishment of Knowledge Product Services and Management

Socio-Economics and Policy Research

• Environmental and Economic Assessment of Smallholder Abaca-based Farming Systems in the Philippines: A Bioeconomic Modeling Approach
• Impact of Pest Management Programs on the Technical, Allocative and Economic Efficiency of Smallholder Abaca Farmers in the Philippines
• Policy Alternatives for Improving Productivity and Sustainability of Abaca Production in the Philippines
• Enhancing capacity of stakeholders for new approaches to market-driven abaca-based technologies
• Analysis of institutional arrangements for effective implementation of extension programs for abaca
• Gender and development analysis in the abaca industry

Extension

• Seedpiece Production and Distribution
• Technical Assistance
• Information Support Services

Developed Technologies

• Cover Crops for Abaca
• Intercropping Annual Crops with Abaca
• Intercropping Abaca With Established Fruit Trees
• Portable Engine-Powered Abaca Spindle Stripping Machine
• Village-Level Abaca Twisting Machine
• Village-Level Abaca Twining & Twisting Machine
• Village-Level Pulping Machine
• Village-Level Handmade Paper Dryer
• Collapsible Molders
• Abaca Slicer-Shaver
• High Value Handicraft Products From Abaca Wastes And Reject Fibers
• Handmade Paper From Abaca Stripping Wastes And Fiber Wastes
• Mushroom Culture Using Abaca Wastes
• Yarning Machine
• Portable Abaca Spindle Stripping Machine (New Model)

Potential Technologies

• Optimized media for Rapid Propagation of High-Yielding Abaca Varieties Inosa and Laylay
• Somatic Embryogenesis for Rapid Propagation and Genetic Transformation of Abaca
• Portable Tensile Strength Meter
• Portable Electeonic Moisture Tester
• Village-Level Abaca Combing Machine
• Growth Improvement of Tissue-Cultured Abaca Seedling Through Mycorrhizal Application
• Mycorrhiza for the Control of Fusarium Wilt of Abaca
• Entomopathogenetic Fungus for the Control of Aphids (Pentalonia nigronervosa)

The National Abaca Research Center (NARC) at the Visayas State University (VSU), which is mandated to help uplift the abaca industry, started its operation in 1987 with the launching of an integrated and multidisciplinary research and development program on abaca. It is one of the agencies which actively involved in research and extension work on fiber indusrtry. It aims to increase production and improvement of the quality of abaca fiber and its products. Since its existence, NARC has developed abaca technologies that increase the income of small abaca farmers, generate employment for rural households, and increase value-added to the plant.

It has also formulated an Integrated Extension program to effectively respond to the needs of the industry particularly in facilitating the dissemination of abaca technologies to end-users and assist Local Government Units in establishing livelihood and agricultural support-services program.

The Center is housed in a two-storey building with 14 rooms for research staff, one training hall, a mini-library, one computer room, a facilitative room, a show room, 4 restrooms and a Director's office.

NARC's abaca germplasm collection which is the largest in the country and the whole world, consists of 518 cultivated species, 105 hybrids and 150 wild relatives or a total of 773 accessions collected from all over the country.

Vision

A globally competitive, socially acceptable and sustainable abaca industry.

Mission

Enhancement of the general well-being of the small abaca farmers, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders through relevant abaca R&D/E programs.

Goal

To develop market-driven, socially acceptable and sustainable development technologies that enhance productivity and efficiency of the abaca industry

Thrusts

1. Development of high-yielding, pest and stress resistant abaca varieties with high-quality fibers suited to specific end uses through conventional method and biotechnology
2. Generation of appropriate production management technologies to increase fiber yield per unit area
3. Development of an integrated pest management system with emphasis on bunchy top, mosaic and Fusarium wilt for sustained abaca production especially in disease-infested areas.
4. Increase value-added to abaca through development of new uses of fibers and waste products and improvement of existing ones.
5. Adoption, improvement and/or development of village level postharvest processing technologies.
6. Enhance access of stakeholders to developed and matured abaca technologies.
7. Establish a National Abaca Information System.