[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’ URBAN FARMER ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY JULIO P. YAP JR.
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
WITH the contribution of more than 2.5 million Filipino farmers, the local mango industry is considered one of the backbone industries of the country’s agriculture sector.
In the industry, the “Carabao” variety of mango is among the country’s vital export products and ranks third in terms of volume, with a production of about 885,000 metric tons, and area coverage of about 188,100 hectares.
Based on a report made by the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2015, the said figures are next to the local production volume of banana and pineapple.
The variety is known in the international market as the “Manila Super” mango, and dubbed one of the best varieties in the world.
It has a very high potential as an export commodity – whether fresh or in processed form.
However, industry problems have greatly affected its performance in the international market.
Specifically, the declining yield and quality could be attributed to pests and diseases, poor nutrient and water management, low adoption of improved technologies, and high postharvest losses.
Other industry problems include difficulty in farm operations due to the large size of the “Carabao” mango tree, non-assurance that planting materials sold in nurseries are true-to-type “Carabao” mango, and the high cost of production due to inefficient pesticide application.
Aside from these setbacks, there are policy issues and concerns that impede the advancement of the mango industry.
To address the problems affecting the industry, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (PCAARRD-DOST) crafted the Industry Strategic S&T Program or ISP for mango.
PCAARRD says the ISP for mango aims to increase yield by 158 percent, which is 5.82 metric tons/hectare (mt/ha) to 15 mt/ha; reduce postharvest losses by 65 percent – from 40 percent to 14 percent; and enhance the capability of mango growers on Integrated Crop Management (ICM), Postharvest Quality Management (PQM), and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
Under the PCAARRD’s National Science and Technology (S&T) Program for “Carabao” Mango, information, education, and communication (IEC) materials on enhanced integrated pest management (IPM) for the management of mango twig borer (MTB) and cecid fly or “kurikong,” two of the most serious insect pests of mango, were developed by the Ramon Magsaysay Technological University.
Through the initiative, suitability and vulnerability maps on mango production in Western Visayas are now available under a project on Geographic Information System implemented by the University of the Philippines in the Visayas.
In the area of plant breeding, putative mango hybrids with target traits such as red blush and thick skin, and resistance to pests and diseases were identified by the Institute of Plant Breeding of the University of the Philippines Los Baños.
PCAARRD is optimistic that under this program, the country will have another competitive variety which is intended for the domestic and export markets in the near future.
Valuable outputs from the completed and ongoing programs are expected to benefit the industry, and ultimately, the livelihood of the local mango farmers through valuable S&T interventions. (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN)
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
