Mango exports are on the upswing--DA
Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas, Sr. and wife
Myrna look amazed with the hybrid
mangoes displayed outside the venue of
the 8th National Mango Congress in
Amigo Hotel. At rigth is Ric Provido,
chairman of the Regional Agri-Fisheries
Council and partly hidden is Provincial
Agriculturist Zafiro Palabrica.
"Let us zero in on quality mango production," Undersecretary Jesus Emmanuel Paras said during the opening of the 8th National Mango Congress currently held at the Amigo Terrace Hotel, Iloilo City.
Mango is one of the priority commodities under the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani-High Value Commercial Crops (GMA-HVCC) program both at the national and regional levels due to its economic contribution and the capability of the country to compete globally.
USEC Paras told hundreds of mango growers/farmers, scientists and investors from around the country that mango industry in the country has all the plus factors -- the right soil and the favorable climate for a year-round production of mango fruits.
He noted during his speech the Western Visayas' trade expansion where the region's agri-fishery export earned $9.7 million.
Citing the mango products of Guimaras province, Paras said that "Guimaras mangoes continued to wallop in the global markets".
"Plant quarantine data show a total volume of 356,000 kilograms of Guimaras mangoes exported to the US in the year 2005. As early as April this year, Guimaras province has exported 67,000 kilograms of its mangoes to the US and 216 kilograms to Australia," Paras said.
According to a statistical data, the Philippines in 1995 to 2004 has an average mango production of 899,440 metric tons with an annual average growth rate (AAGR) of 4.22%; Average area planted at the same period is 134,872 hectares with AAGR of 4.41 percent. The average yield from year 1995 to 2004 is 6.70 metric tons per hectare
During the opening of the 8th National Mango Congress, USEC Paras said that in order for the country to pursue its goal to be one of world's top mango exporters "we should further improve our production output, post harvest technology, disease control/elimination and market linkages.
USEC Paras said that the Department of Agriculture and its other bureaus in collaboration with other institutions and stakeholders have developed and implemented technologies, strategies and programs responsive to the needs of the mango industries.
He said that a collaborative project between the DA-BPI and USDA focused on determining the viability of irradiation as an alternative post-harvest treatment for mangoes against pulp weevil and two species of fruit flies; and the use of controlled atmosphere to extend the shelf life of mangoes.
(T.Villavert/PIA)