NATURAL fibers ease the pain of poverty. In many developing countries, proceeds from the sale and export of natural fibers contribute significantly to the income and the food security of poor farmers and those working in fiber processing and marketing. Worldwide, some 30 million tons of natural fibers are produced annually. But they have lost market share to synthetic fibers. The International Year of Natural Fibers raises the profile of these fibers and emphasizes their value to consumers while helping to sustain farmers' income. Plant fibers Abaca, once a favored source of rope, is known as...
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