The Philippine government is working on creating new types of mangoes that can be sold globally by investing in research and development according to the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF).
The National Sectoral Committee on Fruits and Vegetables, as stated by PCAF, held a meeting with stakeholders after the Department of Agriculture (DA) passed a resolution exploring the potential of offering logistical assistance to mango exporters.
One of the goals is to improve the skin and shelf life of the carabao mango, which is a popular variety.
There are also concerns about pesticide residue and the use of banned pesticides. The Bureau of Plant Industry is working on implementing good agricultural practices to address these issues.
The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) is exploring the use of mobile elevating work platforms to assist small and hilly mango farms.
The meeting also covered topics such as the mango road map, industry-related legislation, funding for research and development, and training and loans for mango producers.
Despite being known for having the best mangoes in the world, the Philippines sells them at a relatively low price in the international market.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, local mango production has increased by nearly 10 percent compared to last year, with 692,190 metric tons produced in the first half of 2023.
Source: PhilNews24 | August 22, 2023
