Harvesting
Under normal conditions, the first harvest is done from 18 to 24 months after planting. Stalks are considered mature and are harvested when the flagleaf appears. Subsequent harvest is done at 3 to 4 month intervals. The period of good fiber recovery extend for more than one month from flagleaf to early inflorescence. In the harvesting process, which involves mainly the cutting down of the plant, there are 2 stages, namely: Topping - the leaves of the trees to be harvested are cut at the base of the petiole with the use of a knife or sickle fastened at the end of a bamboo or wooden pole. Tumbling - the stalks that have just been topped are then tumbled down with the use of a bolo knife. The stalks are cut close to the ground. After tumbling, all cut stalks are piled in a convenient place where "tuxying" is to be done. The Abaca Plant | Abaca Fiber and Pulp | Abaca Propagation | Tuxying
Stripping | Drying | Baling & Grading |