Sustainability Challenges and Opportunities in the Pineapple Leaf Fiber (PALF) Value Chain in the Philippines

Date

6-2022

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Melodee Marciana E. De Castro

Committee Member

Dinah Pura T. Depositario, Maria Noriza Q. Herrera, Mar Cruz

Abstract

The concern for climate change has brought the attention of countries and organizations towards sustainability. According to The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global warming would likely reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052, and its climate-related risks to human health, livelihood and security, food security, water supply, and economic growth were expected to increase. Because of this, actions, and policies for mitigating the climate change are established and further improved for a more unified sustainable goal as the world continues to experience its consequences.

The pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) is a natural fiber derived from the leaves in pineapple production. Deemed before as a farm waste, it is now emerging as an additional source of income for the farmers and people in rural areas where pineapple production is thriving. Literature proved that the pineapple leaves are environmentally friendly for its fiber, especially that its composites are stronger and higher quality than other fibers, and a better alternative for synthetic fibers and animal leather.

However, only the extraction process, its composites, and surface treatments were mostly studied to further enhance the use of PALF. It is also important to determine the extent of sustainability of PALF in the value chain to identify the opportunities and challenges of the industry to further its sustainability. Hence, the general focus of this research was to investigate the sustainability of PALF value chain.

The specific objectives of this research were a) present the participants of the PALF value chain stages, b) describe the activities and value-addition practices in the value chain, c) analyze the practices in the value chain stages, d) assess the sustainability of the practices in the value chain stages, e) recommend strategies to leverage the opportunities and address the sustainability challenges in each of the value chain stages.

In summary of the role of the participants, it was revealed that the actors have a vital role in the whole value chain. The supply of PALF depends on the farmers' yield, and the transformation of PALF is done by the weavers. Traders are the main linkage of the actors throughout the value chain, and the Barong Tagalog manufacturers are the last actors who put value addition in PALF by creating a fine quality garment. Enablers of the value chain are the private and public agencies who helped the key stakeholders in the development of the value chain.

The cost-return analysis of all stages resulted in a positive gross return for all stages. Two cases of 1 ha. farm was analyzed which resulted to pineapple production returns at P22,323.73 and P25,819.18, respectively. It was also observed that it was more ideal for the farmers to choose a decorticating extraction than hand scraping for a higher income. On the other hand, Piña weaving resulted to annual gross return of P37,668.27, while Barong Tagalog manufacturing resulted to P74,834.38 for a bulk production.

In the subsector mapping, there were three channels of PALF identified in the study. The identified growing stages were the trading of PALF and fabrics. The trading of fibers depends on the type of fibers and presence of traders. PALF in Camarines Norte were sold at P320.00 and P1,000.00, while it was sold in Aklan at P3,000.00. The points for leverage in the subsector was the cost optimization and improved collaboration of the actors in the chain.

The value generated of PALF identified two scenarios where the employment of external labor and household labor could make a difference to the income and value added of PALF. The price used in the analysis was the price level of hand scraped PALF in Camarines Norte. It would probably increase the returns and value added of PALF extraction stage if the price of fiber was higher than P1,000.00, and consequently, it would lower the total value added in weaving-trading stage.

Partial budget analysis was also used to compare the alternatives for each of the stages. In pineapple production, the analysis resulted to a total net impact of P18,188.20 if the integrated use of organic and chemical fertilizers were implemented. PALF extraction stage resulted to a total net impact of P16,362.94 if the biodiesel would be used for the machine. Meanwhile, Piña weaving stage resulted to a total net impact at -P181,386.02 if only the automated machine was employed, and Barong Tagalog manufacturing resulted to a total net impact of -P533,558.92 if the computer embroidery was implemented.

On the other hand, the practices of the participants were analyzed and categorized according to their implications. These practices were assessed using SAFA methodology, where the practices were assigned with a specific indicator and categorized according to their respective subthemes and themes. Afterwards, the themes were scored and rated if they were acceptable, needs improvement, or unacceptable.

In pineapple production, the theme atmosphere resulted in unacceptable, while the themes water, investment, and decent livelihood resulted in acceptable. Moderate rating or the themes that need improvement were land, biodiversity, vulnerability, and human health & safety. In PALF extraction, only the theme of atmosphere had an unacceptable rating, while the themes material & energy use and fair trade & practices need an improvement. In Piña weaving, it did not gain an unacceptable rating, but a few economic and social activities need an improvement, particularly the themes vulnerability, decent livelihood, labor rights, and fair trade & practices. When it comes to Barong Tagalog manufacturing, it also had no unacceptable ratings. However, it had practices that need an improvement in all pillars, particularly in the themes of material & energy use, vulnerability, product quality & information, labor rights, decent livelihood, and human safety & health.

The content analysis also identified patterns towards addressing the economic, environmental, and social challenges, and the perception of Piña based on the responses of the participants. In the economic pillar, the four codes generated are information technology, access to capital, attitude towards livelihood and capacity/expertise. As for the environmental pillar, the participants deemed green production to be vital for their activities. Cultural preservation and social responsibility are the patterns identified for social pillar. Furthermore, the perception of the participants on Piña are highly valued, and luxury and investment.

Recommendations were given to address the challenges, and to make the value chain competitive and sustainable. General recommendations such as research and development are vital since the existing PALF studies are mostly on the composites and extraction process. Feasibility studies for the PALF of other pineapple varieties are also crucial for identifying their specific composites and uses of the PALF to prevent inferiority and competition between the pineapple varieties. More importantly, collaboration between the actors of the value chain is recommended for a more defined goal setting and pursuance of the sustainable development of the industry. Specific sustainability solutions are also given for each stage.

Language

English

LC Subject

Pineapple industry, Food--Fiber content

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993 2022 M17 M37

Notes

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Document Type

Thesis

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