GUMASA, Glan, Sarangani (October 3, 2011)- Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala guaranteed the Philippine mango industry with his department’s support as he graced the 13th National Mango Congress at Isla Jardin del Mar resort in Gumasa.
“Rest assured that the DA (Department of Agriculture) will continue with support programs including the establishment and rehabilitation of nurseries and foundation scion grove, household and village processing assistance and crop improvement especially for climate change adaptability,” Alcala told 322 registered delegates on September 30 at the end of the three-day congress.
Alcala reported a seven percent growth in the annual production of mangoes in 2010 which was reportedly “prompted by the continuous flower induction in Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Bicol Region and all the Visayas regions.”
However, a decline of 5.3 percent during the early months this year was noted. He said this was being caused by the changing weather conditions and the early rainy season which may have been triggered by climate change.
Last year, fresh mango exports reached 20,115 tons worth US$15.2 million. The country also exported dried and processed mangoes at 3,600 tons and 9,328 tons, respectively. The combined exports of fresh, dried, and processed mangoes last year earned a total of more than US$50 million, according to the Secretary.
Despite these figures, Alcala still noted a shortage in supply and urged growers and producers to plant more. He challenged them to surpass last year’s produce considering that the DA is working with the sector “in improving handling and transport systems.”
Alcala valued the importance of this year’s congress theme, “Positioning the Philippine Mango Strongly in the World Market,” to be relevantly timing with the huge demand for Philippine mango.
“I-ayos lamang po natin na matugunan po ang mga kailangan gawin ng industry upang patuloy na tangkilikin ng ibang bansa ang ating mangga. Ito po ay para sa inihahangad ng industry ng mangga sa pandaigdigang pamilihan at maging sa Pilipinas,” Alcala said.
Major mango producers in the country are Ilocos Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Central Visayas, Central Luzon, and SOCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos) area. (Beverly C. Paoyon/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE) Agriculture Secretary affirms mango industry backing
October 5, 2011 By
GUMASA, Glan, Sarangani (October 3, 2011)- Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala guaranteed the Philippine mango industry with his department’s support as he graced the 13th National Mango Congress at Isla Jardin del Mar resort in Gumasa.
“Rest assured that the DA (Department of Agriculture) will continue with support programs including the establishment and rehabilitation of nurseries and foundation scion grove, household and village processing assistance and crop improvement especially for climate change adaptability,” Alcala told 322 registered delegates on September 30 at the end of the three-day congress.
Alcala reported a seven percent growth in the annual production of mangoes in 2010 which was reportedly “prompted by the continuous flower induction in Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Bicol Region and all the Visayas regions.”
However, a decline of 5.3 percent during the early months this year was noted. He said this was being caused by the changing weather conditions and the early rainy season which may have been triggered by climate change.
Last year, fresh mango exports reached 20,115 tons worth US$15.2 million. The country also exported dried and processed mangoes at 3,600 tons and 9,328 tons, respectively. The combined exports of fresh, dried, and processed mangoes last year earned a total of more than US$50 million, according to the Secretary.
Despite these figures, Alcala still noted a shortage in supply and urged growers and producers to plant more. He challenged them to surpass last year’s produce considering that the DA is working with the sector “in improving handling and transport systems.”
Alcala valued the importance of this year’s congress theme, “Positioning the Philippine Mango Strongly in the World Market,” to be relevantly timing with the huge demand for Philippine mango.
“I-ayos lamang po natin na matugunan po ang mga kailangan gawin ng industry upang patuloy na tangkilikin ng ibang bansa ang ating mangga. Ito po ay para sa inihahangad ng industry ng mangga sa pandaigdigang pamilihan at maging sa Pilipinas,” Alcala said.
Major mango producers in the country are Ilocos Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Central Visayas, Central Luzon, and SOCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos) area. (Beverly C. Paoyon/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE) Healthier diet may boost PHL mango demand abroad
October 5, 2011 By
GUMASA, Glan, Sarangani (October 3, 2011) – Global demand for fresh fruits, including mangoes from the Philippines, may rise as consumers shift to healthier diets.
This was the upbeat outlook shared by Ross Wherry, chief of party of the United States Agency for International Development – Growth with Equity in Mindanao Program (USAID-GEM), to the delegates of the 13th National Mango Congress on September 29.
In positioning the Philippine mango to the global market, he said “strong partnership and efficient teamwork with various players in the value chain is extremely important.”
The “favorable climatic and geographic advantages” in Mindanao made it to be in the excellent position to take advantage of this market trend.
Clearly, Wherry said, the continuing expansion of fruit industry specifically mangoes “is starting to boost the economic growth in Mindanao and is also helping to create a more conducive and vibrant (place) for peace and development.”
According to Wherry, thousands of jobs are directly generated by this industry while thousands of farmers are also being able to access with the sector for their livelihood.
USAID is currently helping fruit growers and processors “expand access into lucrative markets such as China, Japan, South Korea, the Middle East, United States and Europe,” Wherry said. However, he encouraged accountability from the sector that “(We will) help but you have to sell.”
USAID is providing wide-ranging technical assistance to thousands of producers in Mindanao like trainings on farming technologies, among others.
Wherry said his agency was proud to see the assistance of the American government which has facilitated especially in terms of job, income and export for revenues.
“We are proud to see Mindanao taking center stage in this year’s mango congress because Mindanao is emerging as a supplier of high quality fresh and processed mangoes into many parts of the world.”
“Over the years,” Wherry said, “Mindanao has made much progress in developing its agricultural and processing sectors, while forming strong producer associations. Over time, they developed into dynamic associations with national networks and set their sights on the export market.”(Beverly C. Paoyon/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE) Graduation song of mango farmers
October 5, 2011 By
GUMASA, Glan, Sarangani (October 3, 2011) – Mango farmer-graduates perform their graduation song at the 13th National Mango Congress after successfully completing a season-long training of Farmers’ Field School (FFS) for mango under “Kasaganahan ng Sakahan at Kalikasan” and the National Integrated Pest Management program. This program was conducted by the Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the National Agriculture and Fishery Council, provincial government of Sarangani and the municipal government of Glan. (Russell Delvo/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE) Philippine mango industry positioning “strongly” in world market
October 3, 2011 By
GUMASA, Glan, Sarangani (September 29, 2011) – Mango industry players were positioning Philippine mango strongly in the world market by maximizing efficiency in the cost service and logistics areas, an industry officer said.
Virginia de la Fuente, president of the Philippine Mango Industry Foundation, Inc., also urged mango stakeholders – mango growers, contract sprayers/financiers, input suppliers, nursery operators, exporters/traders, processors and logistics providers to “unite and actively participate in all our advocacies and undertakings for the improvement of, if not to save our mango industry and position our Philippine mango strongly in the world market.”
She appealed to the Department of Agriculture to “empower and capacitate the mango industry associations and for any other industry association for that matter by consulting the industry leaders in planning exercises to prioritize and craft programs, providing reasonable grants to implement and achieve plans through the national organizations and instituting control mechanism.”
De la Fuente said Mindanao has the “potential” for mango production with SOCSARGEN (South Cotabato-Sarangani-General Santos City) having the largest number of hectarage and production.
“Because of this climate change I am now campaigning that mango production will be made here in Mindanao,” de la Fuente told delegates at the 13th National Mango Congress Wednesday (September 28).
“Mindanao produces only 35% of the total national production but we have the potential,” she said.
Sixty-five percent of the produce is coming from Pangasinan and the rest of Luzon.
In a message to the delegates, Rep. Manny Pacquiao said the mango congress is an indication for a stronger partnership to “heighten commitment to increase the competitiveness of the Philippine mango in world market and develop more production areas in Mindanao.”
Pacquiao also asked mango industry players “to maximize the production and export potentials of the Philippine mango industry. We will utilize this mango congress as a dynamic platform to learn as much as we can to ensure the strongest position in the world market.”
The three-day mango congress being held at world-class Isla Jardin del Mar resort in Gumasa ends on September 30. (Beverly Paoyon/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
Sarangani is worth investing in
October 3, 2011 By
GUMASA, Glan, Sarangani (September 29, 2011) – “You had given us the chance to prove that Sarangani is worth investing in” says Sarangani Board Member Eleanor Saguiguit (Sanggunian Chairperson of the Committee on Trade and Industry), representing Governor Migs Dominguez, during the opening ceremony of the 13th National Mango Congress at Isla Jardin del Mar resort on Wednesday, September 28. (Russel Delvo/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE) National Mango Congress host assures guests
October 3, 2011 By
GUMASA, Glan, Sarangani (September 29, 2011) – Mayor James Victor Yap
Sr. of the host municipality assures the peacefulness of his place during the opening ceremony of the 13th National Mango Congress at Isla Jardin del Mar resort Wednesday, September 28. (Russel Delvo/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE) 13th National Mango Congress opens in Gumasa, Sarangani
October 2, 2011 By
GUMASA, Glan, Sarangani (September 28, 2011) – (L-R) Manny Abad, CARP-National program manager, Department of Trade and Industry; Board Member Eleanor Saguiguit; Virgie dela Fuente, president of Philippine Mango Industry Foundation, Inc.; Mayor Victor James Yap Sr. and Jimmy Olivo of the Regional Field Unit, Department of Agriculture cut the ribbon to formally open the agri-trade fair exhibit and trade show at the opening program of the three-day 13th National Mango Congress Wednesday, September 28, at Isla Jardin Del Mar resort in Gumasa. The event is organized by the Philippine Mango Industry Foundation, Inc. and hosted by Sarangani Federation of Fruit Industry Association, Inc. with this year’s theme: “Positioning the Philippine Mango Industry Strongly in the World Market.” (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
Press conference for 13th National Mango Congress in Sarangani
September 20, 2011 By
ALABEL, Sarangani (September 15, 2011) – Board Member Eleanor Saguiguit (4th from left) gives her opening statement in behalf of Governor Migs Dominguez at the press conference for the 13th National Mango Congress Thursday, September 15, at the Capitol conference room. The mango congress will be held at Isla Jardin del Mar in Gumasa on September 28-30. Joining the legislator as panelists are (L-R) Danilo Centillas, coordinator of high-value crops development program in Region 12; Engr Nenita Barroso, provincial director of trade and industry; Dorecita Delima, assistant regional director of trade and industry; Vice Mayor Vivien Yap of Glan; Virginia dela Fuente, president of Philippine Mango Industry Foundation, Inc. (PMIFI) and Fred Dumasis, president of Sarangani Foundation of Fruits Industry Associations Inc. (SAFFIA). (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE) National Mango Congress to highlight global competitiveness
September 18, 2011 By
GLAN, SARANGANI PROVINCE—Increasing the competitiveness of Philippine mangoes in export markets and developing more production areas in Mindanao will be the focus of this year’s 13th National Mango Congress.
The congress will run from September 28 to 30, 2011, with the theme, “Positioning the Philippine Mango Strongly in the World Market.”
Japan and Hong Kong remain the biggest buyers of Philippine mangoes, accounting for 51 and 31 percent, respectively, of mango exports, according to a recent report by the Mindanao Fruit Industry Council (MinFruit).
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Other countries where Philippine mangoes have gained a market foothold are South Korea, the U.S.A., Singapore and China.
The conference will provide updates on export market requirements, the latest production technologies, and best production practices. It will also showcase areas in Mindanao with the potential for mango production.
About 500 growers, processors, consolidators, exporters and ancillary service providers from across the country are anticipated to attend the congress, which will be held in the resort town of Glan in Sarangani Province, an emerging mango producer and tourist destination in southern Mindanao.
“We would like to highlight this subregion, especially Sarangani, as a viable location for off-season mango production,” said Fred Dumasis, president of the Sarangani Federation of Fruit Industry Associations, Inc., lead organizer of the congress.
Luzon remains the country’s primary producer of carabao mangoes, accounting for 64 percent of production, while Mindanao accounts for 23 percent, according to MinFruit.
Dumasis said that Mindanao’s contiguous production areas and agro-climatic conditions, particularly in the southern part of the region, make it an ideal location for year-round, typhoon-free mango production.
He also pointed out investment opportunities in mango industry support services, such as hot-water treatment and vapor heat treatment plants and packing houses.
The Mango Congress is supported by MinFruit, the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
USAID, through its Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program, has partnered with MinFruit and the DA to enhance the production methods used by fruit and vegetable farmers across Mindanao, while linking them with prospective local and foreign buyers.
To cap the event, conference delegates will submit recommendations to the national government on how industry stakeholders and government agencies can work together to ensure the mango industry’s continued growth and expansion.
FFS mango demo farm
September 5, 2011 By
ALABEL, Sarangani (August 26, 2011) – Camilo Montefalcon, agriculture technologist of the office of the provincial agriculturist, checks on the gall leaf, a mango disease caused by eriophiyds mites during the inspection at the demo farm in barangay Bagacay Thursday, August 25. The demo farm is an output and a component program of FFS (Farmers Field School), a once-a-week training for 16 weeks or from planting to harvesting. The training is conducted by FFS-graduate technicians provided by the office of the provincial agriculturist and its municipal counterpart. FFS is a group-based learning process that has been used by a number of governments, NGOs and international agencies to promote IMP (Integrated Pest Management), a pest management strategy that builds on biological control as its foundation. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE) 