The Philippines lags in mango production and export.
The country contributes only 2 percent to world production, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA) . It is also “very far behind” the leading mango producers in terms of productivity or yield per hectare, according to the DA’s Mango Industry Road Map for 2017-2022.
The local yield of 4.1 metric tons per hectare is “way below” the world average of 7.65 metric tons per hectare and is not even half that of Thailand with almost 8.20 mt/ha.
“There is a lot of work to do in order to catch up with other leading mango producers. Yield must be sustainably increased and the quality of both fresh and processed products must be improved in order to be competitive in the international markets,” the DA said.
The per capita supply of mango in the Philippines is decreasing, closely following the decreasing trend in production.
A near equilibrium was attained in 2011 when 29 percent of total local productions were exported. The residual supply of Carabao mango is about the same volume as the total consumption. That leaves the production of other mango varieties (about 20 percent of the total) as surplus or unutilized.
With the decline in production, only 17 percent went to export in 2012.
The national average per capital consumption is 3.49 kilograms, indicating a surplus which justifies fresh and processed exports.
Per capita consumption ranges from 1.39 kg in Eastern Visayas (that includes Cebu) to 4.8 kg in northeastern Mindanao.
In 2017, the Department of Trade and Industry concluded there is an increasing global demand for mango while few countries have been able to penetrate the global market.
Its Mango Global Mango Chain report indicates that trade in fresh mangos is more regional while dried mango trade is more global, the latter buyer-driven.
Mango is the fifth most cultivated and the fifth most consumed fruit in the world — after citrus, banana, grapes and apple.
The golden fruit is cultivated in warm tropical and subtropical climates in more than 100 countries, mostly in Asia, Latin America and Africa.
Fresh, dried, frozen, puree and mango juice are sold worldwide.
