Guimaras mangoes' prospects turning sour

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Guimaras mangoes' prospects turning sour
Posted: 9:11 PM | Apr. 30, 2006
Ma. Diosa Labiste
Inquirer

Published on Page B6 of the May 1, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

ILOILO CITY-THE WOES OF THE local mango industry could turn its prospects sour.

Saying that their claim to fame of having the sweetest and pest-free mangoes is not enough, agriculture officials and mango growers in Guimaras and Iloilo are now looking at ways to improve production volume to meet demand.

Iloilo used to be among the top four producers of the country, but it has slid to 8th place.

Guimaras is the only source of Philippine mangoes exported to the United States, but is not on the list of top mango producers.

Pangasinan is the top producer of mangoes in the country at 300,000 metric tons a year.

Iloilo only produces 30,000 metric tons of mangoes a year.

Iloilo mangoes are produced mainly by small farmers. It was only recently that mango plantations started being developed, mostly in northern Iloilo.

In the southern part of the provinces where the soil and climate are suitable for mango growing, mango producers rely on small farmers with one or two trees each.

Guimaras production is only between 10,000 to 11,000 metric tons a year, but the province is the envy of Iloilo because its mangoes meet the standards of the United States and Australia.

Last year, Guimaras exported to the United States and Australia some 500 metric tons valued at P38 to P40 a kilo, up from 311 metric tons at P28 a kilo in 2004.

Guimaras mangoes sell for $2 each in the United States.

The Philippines total export of fresh and processed mangoes in 2005 totaled $36 million, of which $26 million came from the sale of fresh mangoes.

The major markets for mangoes include the United States, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea and China.

In anticipation of further growth in demand, agriculture officials in Guimaras are now working to increase production.

Representatives from the Iloilo Mango Growers Cooperative (IMGC) said the challenge was how to expand the combined 2,300 hectares planted to mangoes to meet foreign demand.

The 32-member cooperative was organized only last year in an attempt to solve problems of the industry, said IMGC board director Wilfredo Telarma.

The problems and opportunities in the country's mango industry will be discussed during the eighth National Mango Congress from May 17 to 19 here.