The National Sectoral Committee on Fruits and Vegetables has convened mango stakeholders earlier this month to discuss concerns on research and development (R&D) and trade policies.
The Department of Agriculture (DA), through its Policy Research Services (PRS), said this is in preparation for the possible provision of logistics support to mango exporters.
Jerome Bunyi, DA-PRS officer-in-charge director, also recommended that stakeholders discuss the R&D in the production of new mango varieties that would be in demand in the international market.
Bunyi noted the need for R&D to improve the Carabao mango’s skin and shelf life to lessen its perishability and costly packaging.
He said while Philippine man-goes are considered among the best in the world, they are one of the cheapest in the international market.
During the same meeting, the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization has urged stakeholders to try its mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) to improve production.
The agency addressed concerns that the MEWP cannot be used in small and hilly mango farms, saying there are current efforts to localize the equipment for such conditions.
The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) also presented the enhancements in its Plant Product Safety Services Division (PPSD) capacity for pesticide residue analysis, as stakeholders said they exceed the maximum residue limits (MRL) in importing countries for the detection of banned pesticides and undetected pesticides.
William Mugot, BPI-PPSSD chief, also urged local mango producers to continue good agricultural practices which, besides overcoming MRL issues, address the quality of the product, its food safety and the preservation of the environment and welfare of farm workers.
Based on a market review by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, the Philippines exported 8,986 tons of mangoes last year.
Meanwhile, Philippine Statistics Authority data showed that 712,553.17 metric tons (MT) of mangoes were produced in the country last year.
Bulk of the volume was Mango Carabao variant at 581,395.45 MT or 81.6 percent, while Mango Piko was at 27,548.16 MT or 3.9 percent and the remaining 103,609.57 MT or 14.5 percent were all other mango varieties.
