Abstract
A pedal-operated abaca stripping tool (POAST) was designed and developed to answer the pressing needs of the abaca farmers in the Philippines. The issues considered were the ability to process abaca fibers right in their farms, address the low quality of traditionally extracted fiber, and generate employment for women. The machine is made from locally available materials, is 147% lighter in weight than the stripping machines available in the study site, can be dismantled into three parts, and can strip three tuxies with a stripping block pressure of 46.9 kPa at a high speed of 690 rpm. The abaca fiber produced is classified as a good cleaning with grades of I, G, and H. It has an average strand thickness of 0.55 mm to 0.70 mm, has a medium soft texture, and is marketable at P95.00 to P115.00. The machine has a recorded maximum daily capacity of 12 kg dried abaca fiber output by women operation and 43.2 kg by men operation. As perceived by 30 abaca farmers, 11 females and 19 males, it is gender-responsive and user-friendly. The machine can attain a break-even when volume output reaches four units at a fixed cost of P17,607.25. The return of investment is 20% on sale. It is recommended for small-scale abaca farmers for their stripping operation right in their farms to optimize the abaca fiber production.
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