Miag-ao in Philippines eyes cotton yarn production

22 Feb '19

2 min read

Pic:Tim Savage from Pexels

The hablon-weaving town of Miag-ao in Iloilo in the Philippines aims to produce cotton yarn. Weavers there, who purchase polyester fibre to make hand-woven fabrics, will spend less on materials once cotton yarn is produced locally, according to Dindo Nemiada, department of trade and industry (DTI) coordinator and Miag-ao’s local economic enterprise consultant.

Hablon is a type of woven cloth often seen during formal events, fashion shows and in homes. In the past, the thread was made from various materials like cotton, banana fibre and pineapple fibre.
Nowadays, it is mostly made from cotton and rayon thread.

Miag-ao’s cotton program started last year. The town is currently growing cotton crop in Barangays Durog, Dawog, Baraclayan, Maricolcol and Kirayan Tacas, according to a news agency report.

The Philippine Fibre Industry Development is supporting 40 cotton farmers by providing them seeds, pesticides, training and technical assistance.

The crop is expected to be harvested in March or April, Nemiada said.
The local government of Miag-ao, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U) will sign an agreement in March for cotton yarn processing.

The DOST-Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) will provide spinning, ginning, and other cotton processing machines that will be installed at the research property of ISAT-U.

The DOST-PTRI and the Philippine textile council, HABI, already expressed willingness to source cotton yarns from Miag-ao. (DS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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