PHILIPPINES PROVE WHY THEY ARE WORLD LEADER IN MANGO PROCESSED INDUSTRY...

PIA Press Release
Tuesday, September 13, 2011


Nueva Ecija gov't , Korean firm to set up mango processing plant






BALER, Aurora September 13 (PIA) -- The provincial government of Nueva Ecija is looking into a partnership with a Korean food processing company for the setting up of a P30 million mango processing plant in line with the goal of turning the province into a food basket in Luzon and in line with the public-private partnership scheme.



Gov. Aurelio M. Umali said that the provincial government is fine-tuning the joint venture with Drupe International, Inc. for a 1,000 square meter mango processing facility.



Umali said that the partnership will harness Nueva Ecija's potentials as a major mango producing area, with the province now ranking first in mango production in Luzon with huge plantations in Palayan City, General Tinio, Jaen and Talavera. (WLB/JSL-PIA 3/NEJ)


http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=53965

IZUSU PHILIPPINES CORPORATION CELEBRATES 15TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A MASSIVE PLANTING OF MANGO TREES (4,000 TRESS) AS PART OF AGRO FORESTRY PROJECT TO CELEBRATE "THE YEAR OF THE FORESTS"

Isuzu turns 15 with another green CSR effort By Kap Maceda Aguila   (The Philippine Star) Updated August 24, 2011 12:00 AM   World Wide Fund for Nature Chief Executive Officer Lorenzo Tan and Isuzu President Ryoji Yamazaki pose during the symbolic turnover of a seedling. MANILA, Philippines - It wouldn’t be exaggeration to say that Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) has adopted quite a great way to mark its birthdays.  “Being already a tradition, we are once again commemorating our anniversary by simply giving back to the community,” said IPC president Ryoji Yamazaki at the celebration of the Japanese automaker’s 14th year in the Philippines. Actually, the birthday once again took a back seat to the launch of IPC’s corporate social responsibility thrust – launched at the same event at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. This time around, the automotive manufacturer has teamed up with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines) for an agro-forestry campaign to conserve the watershed in the Sierra Madre mountain range in Ilagan, Isabela.  According to the WWF, the 300,000 hectare-plus Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park is the “largest remaining swath of old-growth rainforest in the country,” which is also a wildlife sanctuary and a source of water that “feeds the Cagayan Valley, Luzon’s largest rice granary.” WWF says that the natural park is suffering deforestation owing to rampant illegal logging, along with slash-and-burn farming – both attributed to poverty, population growth, lack of property rights, poor governance, and ill-informed farmers. IPC has sort of shown an affinity for environmental causes – beginning in 2002 when it organized an “environment-themed show” for children of Biñan, Laguna. Santa Rosa residents, meanwhile, received a new river garbage trap, and 10,000 tilapia fingerlings went into the Laguna de Bay. In 2005, IPC helped create a man-made “forest strip” in Atimonan, Quezon via some 15,000 Narra seedlings. The following year, IPC caused the planting of mangroves in a five-hectare sprawl at Pangasinan’s Hundred Islands. According to company literature, Isuzu also gave out “environmental signs and (planted) 500 flowering trees along the National Highway entering the town of Alaminos.” The historic Rizal Park was among the chosen beneficiaries in 2007. IPC donated “African tulips and flowering plants, vicinity maps with environmental messages, and waste receptacles.” IPC also gave ornamental plants, plant pots, and environmental markers to Osmeña Park in Cebu, plus more than “100 palm-tree seedlings, waste receptacles, and lighted signboards with environmental messages to the Davao City Park.” In 2008, it was the La Mesa Watershed (main source of water for Metro Manila); then next year it was Caliraya, Quezon (in partnership with the Haribon Foundation. Ecosave, and Napocor); Cebu; and Surigao. Last year, IPC people trooped to Mt. Makiling in Laguna, where the company adopted 13 hectares of forest for three years (one hectare for each year of its history). The firm committed to plant 300 seedlings and to construct a “1.3-kilometer walkway inside the Makiling Botanical Garden.” This year, IPC has found a formidable partner in WWF, the largest conservation organization in the world that “spearheads practical solutions to help the country adapt to climate change, secure food sources to alleviate poverty, conserve local ecosystems to reap natural benefits, empower communities to live low-impact lives, help corporations develop equitable, low-impact supply chains and promote renewable sources of clean energy.” Yamazaki said, “IPC has committed to fund the establishment of 40 hectares of agro-forestry land and plant 100 mango seedlings per hectare and to train farmers in agro-forestry and seedling production.” IPC will also conduct educational programs for local farmers to avert – and reverse – forest destruction. Yamazaki sees a way to help both forest and the people within and around it. “Agro-forestry will teach farmers to be independent as Isuzu is after sustainability and long-term empowerment,” he continued. Later, WWF-Philippines CEO Lorenzo Tan addressed the assembly of media practitioners, Isuzu dealers, and other guests. “We’re very happy to see Isuzu come in, because Isabela is home to the largest remaining block of forest in the Philippines,” he underscored. “It’s home of the Philippine eagle (and) some of the most beautiful rivers in the country.” IPC will infuse funds for WWF to “pilot and expand agro-forestry in grasslands, upland corn- growing areas and farms in order to maintain life-giving watershed functions and services.” Isuzu points out that the environment-related involvement is “in line with the United Nations’ proclamation of 2011 as International Year of the Forests (Forests for People), which focuses on reforestation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.” IPC says it will present the results of the project to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources “in support of the President Aquino’s National Greening Program under Executive Order No. 26 which aims to plant 1.5 billion trees from 2011 to 2016.” WWF’s Tan juxtaposes two figures to explain the importance of the Isabela mission. ”You have 300,000 rice and corn farmers in Isabela, there are only 3,000 people who work illegally in the forest. What’s more important – 300,000 or 3,000?” http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=719806&publicationSubCategoryId=72

DRUPE INTERNATIONAL INC. (SOUTH KOREA) TO INVEST IN PHILIPPINE FROZEN MANGO PRODUCTS FACILITY...INVESTMENT (PROJECT) WILL SPUR GROWTH ON PRODUCTION SIDE AS ACREAGE TO INCREASE IN LUZON PROVINCE...

Nueva Ecija LGU, Korean firm to put up P30-M mango facility By Manny Galvez (The Philippine Star) Updated August 21, 2011 12:00 AM   PALAYAN CITY ,Philippines – The provincial government is eyeing a partnership with a Korean food processing company for a P30-million mango processing plant in Nueva Ecija in line with its goal of turning the province into a food basket in Luzon. Gov. Aurelio Umali said the province is fine-tuning a joint venture with Drupe International Inc. for a 1,000-square meter mango processing facility in the province. Umali said the partnership, which is in line with the public private partnership scheme, will harness the province’s potentials as a major mango-producing area. The province ranks first in Luzon in terms of mango production with vast tracts of mango plantations in this town and in the municipalities of Gen. Tinio, Jaen and Talavera. “With this partnership with Drupe, we expect mango production in Nueva Ecija – already tops in Luzon – to further increase and pump-prime the agricultural economy of the province as the undisputed food basket in the country,” he said. Board member Romanito Juatco, who will manage the plant, said that during peak harvest Nueva Ecija produces 62 million kilos of mango of which 58 percent is exported to Cebu. He said the governor wants the province to process its own mango products. Drupe has a 2,000-square meter plant inside the Philexcel Business Park at the Clark Freeport Zone. The five-year-old firm, which started as Welsum Foodtech, Inc. on Jan. 25, 2006, is known as the first innovative company which developed and created a new market for frozen fruits on stick in the world. Equipped with modern, hygienic production and quality control facility that conforms to international standards, Drupe has a capability to freeze fruits that maintain their freshness and sensory properties up to two years. Cryogenic freezing is an advanced form of blast freezing in which individual food products are exposed to sprays of liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide at a temperature of -196 degrees Celcius or colder. This allows formation of small ice crystals inside the cell of the products, maintaining their freshness unlike slow freezing which can damage products because the process produces large crystals that pierce and damage cell walls. Eui Kwon Chung of Drupe said the key benefits of the firm’s frozen products are that they offer cheap alternative to costly importation of ripe fruits, easy alternative to fresh fruits preparation, ensure off-season availability and in-season quality and offer fresh alternative to traditional food preservation methods. http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=718873&publicationSubCategoryId=77

USA AMBASSADOR TO PHILIPPINES LOVES MANGOES AND ALL FOOD FILIPINO...WILL HE ATTEND MANGO CONFERENCE IN SEPTEMBER ???...

US envoy’s fast-food diplomacy

By Maricar CP Hampton
FilAm Star
4:23 pm | Saturday, August 20th, 2011




Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. poses with a Jollibee mascot. Photo by the US Embassy in Manila
Barely two years into the job and United States Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. is smitten with everything Filipino. He’s tried ‘balut’ and ‘lambanog’ and swears he likes them.

“I couldn’t be more than a few weeks without Filipino food,” he told a Filipino American crowd gathered at the Asia Society in Washington D.C. ‘Adobo,’ he confessed, is his favorite Philippine dish.

Two weeks into his recent home leave, he took his mom, Haladonia Thomas, to try Philippine fast-food atJollibee and Red Ribbon bake shop in Queens. At Jollibee, they ordered Chickenjoy and hamburger. For dessert, they headed to Red Ribbon for a slice of mango cake and ‘halo- halo.’

“My mom is now a fan of mango cake,” the New York-born Thomas told his audience.

Using food as his entry point, Thomas worked his way through Philippine-American relations, and characterized bilateral ties as being “strong as ever.”

He reiterated America’s commitment to provide support to the Philippines over the issue of the Spratly Islands conflict. “No one should doubt the United States’ commitment to the Philippines,” he said.

Manila and Beijing are in a standoff over a group of islands along the Palawan waters being claimed by both countries.

“Lately, we have seen growing concern in the Philippines about conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea),” he said. “Like every other nation, we have a national interest in freedom of navigation and respect for international law.”

“The United States does not take sides on the competing territorial disputes, but we believe claimants should pursue their territorial claims in accordance with the UN convention on the law of the sea,” he said, echoing the Philippine position.

Thomas praised President Benigno Aquino Jr. for his “desire to deliver good and clean governance” as in the time he called on officials to eliminate the use of car sirens – a practice Aquino equated with abuse of power.

“I’m impressed with President Aquino’s desire to level the playing field,” he said. “The fact that something so small as a siren went out… (This) has been a key to a wonderful beginning.”

He also commended Aquino for waging war against heinous crimes and human trafficking, which is “nothing short of modern-day slavery.”

“I am delighted to tell you, there has been progress. We support the strong partnership between the civil society and government agencies that have worked to prevent victimization, rescue those who have been abused, apprehend perpetrators and convict the guilty. Much remains to be done, but the US government has recognized Philippine progress,” said Thomas.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/9695/us-envoy%E2%80%99s-fast-food-diplomacy

PHILIPPINES REGION OFFERS YEAR-ROUND MANGO PRODUCTION...INVESTORS TAKE NOTE...

PIA Press Release
Thursday, August 18, 2011

Zambo. Norte assures year-round mango supply




by Franklin P. Gumapon

DIPOLOG CITY, Aug. 18 (PIA) -- Any prospective investor in food processing is always after the availability of raw materials in a particular place where he is planning to put up his business.



This is what POMS Ventures Corp. has discovered in Zamboanga del Norte, the number one mango producer in the region and number two in the country.



Mr. James Santos, manager of POMS Mango Processing Plant in Irasan, Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte, disclosed during yesterday’s session of the three-day investment promotion seminar spearheaded by the Dipolog-Dapitan-Polanco-Katipunan-Roxas-Manukan (DDPKaRoMa) Project Management Office that the province has “abundant and whole year-round supply of mangoes.”



POMS Ventures Corp. is engaged in manufacturing, processing, marketing and distribution of agricultural products such as coconut, mangoes, durian and other fruits.



Santos said the province has adequately supplied the 714.43 metric tons of mangoes that the company needs each year. “So, the supply of raw materials is not a problem here,” he said, adding that “the problems lie in solid waste disposal, water treatment facility and the shipment of products.”



Roxas town has yet to formulate and implement its solid waste management system.



The Dapitan port, on the other hand, has no available vessel direct to Manila. The company has to ship its products to Manila via Ozamis City.



The POMS mango processing plant, which is situated at the Provincial Agri-Industrial Center at Irasan, Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte, is now producing dried mangoes, dried green mangoes, green mangoes puree, mangoes puree, and other processed fruit products.



It can be recalled that coconut and mango are the major cash crops in the province. Like coconuts, mangoes grow all over the province. (ALT/FPG/PIA-Zambo. Norte)

MANGO PRODUCTION IN THE PHILIPPINES IS AFFECTED BY PROLONGED RAINY SEASON...

Rains bring down mango production in Mindanao
Unusually wet weather hounds industry

By: Judy Quiros
Inquirer Mindanao

10:49 pm | Sunday, August 14th, 2011




DAVAO City, Philippines—Mango production in Mindanao is down by more than 30 percent this year due to the unusually wet weather over the past three years, according to mango industry officials.

Fred Dumasis, president of the Sarangani Federation of Fruit Industry Association (Safia), said that since 2008, Mindanao has not experienced favorable weather for mango production.

Mango trees bear more fruits during the dry season.

“There has been no clear dry and wet season. There is only wet and wet season,” Dumasis said here last week.

Virginia de la Fuente, president of the Philippine Mango Industry Foundation Inc. (PMIF), said the unstable weather condition since 2008 pulled down mango harvest in the entire country to only about 670,000 metric tons per year.

Before 2008, production was around 970,000 metric tons per year, Ms. De la Fuente said.

The Philippines, according to the 2004 report of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, is ranked the world’s seventh-largest mango producer.

De la Fuente said erratic weather conditions have affected the productivity of the country’s mango fields—which the BAS estimated at 158,000 hectares, and has reduced the income of 2.5 million farmers and their families.

To increase production, she said farmers have to spend more to coax production.

“During the last three years, there is no stable weather condition, prompting mango growers to induce mango trees to enable them to bear fruits,” De la Fuente said.

Problems hounding the mango industry will be among the topics to be discussed during the 13th Mango Congress in Glan, Sarangani province, from September 28 to 30, De la Fuente said.

While the mango industry’s outlook was dismal because of lower production, the coconut industry, especially in Southern Mindanao, has been getting a shot in the arm.

Last week, the Maryland-based Trasian Development Llc., a major supplier of composite wood, announced its plans to put up a coconut shell processing plant here.

Steve Traylor, Trasian chief operating officer, told reporters here the plant would be put up either in Tibungo or Lasang.

Traylor said Trasian aims to use coconut shells in the manufacture of the company’s composite wood boards.

Traylor said Trasian would start building the plant in December.

Aside from Trasian, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in Southern Mindanao said three more desiccated coconut plants will rise in the region, which groups the three Davao provinces and Compostela Valley, within the year.

The investments, according to PCA regional director Lornito Orillaneda, would pump P52.3 billion in investments in the coconut industry.

Orillaneda said proposed plants were also expected to generate 500 jobs.

http://business.inquirer.net/12867/rains-bring-down-mango-production-in-mindanao

PHILIPPINES ... MAJOR PROVIDER OF MANGOES FROM AUSTRALIA TO ASIA...

BACKGROUND

The Philippines, one of the largest island-groups in the world with 7,100 islands and islets, is strategically located within the area of nations that sweeps southeast from Mainland Asia across the equator to Australia.

Background
Climate
Land Resources
Farm Systems/Structure
Agri in the Economy



Its boundaries are formed by three large bodies of water: on the west and north by the South China Sea; on the east by the Pacific Ocean; and on the south by the Celebes Sea and coastal waters of Borneo.

The total land area of the Philippines is 300 thousand square kilometers or 30 million hectares. It constitutes two percent of the total land area of the world and ranks 57th among the 146 countries of the world in terms of physical size.

The Philippines, advocates the archipelago doctrine, as such it gains exclusive to all resources living or non-living in and at the bottom of an area of about 276,000 square nautical miles.

The Philippines is divided into three major island groups:
Luzon, with an area of 141 thousand square kilometers;
Mindanao, with an area of 102 thousand square kilometers; and
Visayas, with an area of 57 thousand square kilometers.



CLIMATE
Climate Map of the Philippines

Based on the seasonal rainfall distribution, the climate of the Philippines is classified as follows;

Type I:
Two pronounced seasons with maximum rain period from June to September and a dry season which lasts from three to six or seven months.

Type II:
No dry season with a very pronounced maximum rain period from December to February.

Type III:
No pronounced maximum rain period with a short dry season lasting only from one to three months.

Type IV:
Rainfall more or less evenly distributed throughout the year.


The tropical cyclone season in the country is from June to December, with the months from July to September having the most frequent occurrence of more than 3 cyclones each month.

Annual relative humidity ranges from 75 to 86 percent and annual mean temperature is between 19.20 and 28.20 C while annual rainfall ranges from 914 to 4,358 millimeters.


LAND RESOURCES


Land Area

The Philippines is an agricultural country with a land area of 30 million hectares, 47% of which is agricultural land. In the Philippines, prime agricultural lands are located around the main urban and high population density areas.

Land resources in the country are generally classified into forest lands and alienable and disposable lands. A total of 15.8 million hectares were classified into forest lands, and 14.2 million hectares are alienable and disposable lands. Out of the 14.2 million hectares alienable and disposable lands, 93% or 13 million hectares are classified as agricultural lands.

Land Distribution

The Total area devoted to agricultural crops is 13 million hectares. This is distributed among food grains, food crops and non-food crops. Food grains occupied 31% (4.01 million hectares), food crops utilized 52% (8.33 million hectares) while 17% (2.2 million hectares) were used for non-food crops.

For food grains, the average area utilized by corn was 3.34 million while rice occupied 3.31 million hectares.

Of the total area under food crops, coconut accounted for the biggest average harvest area of 4.25 million hectares. Sugarcane with 673 thousand hectares; Industrial crops with 591 thousand hectares; 148 thousand hectares for fruits; 270 thousand hectares for vegetables and rootcrops; 404 thousand hectares for pasture and 133 hectares for cutflower.

According to land capability, 78.31% of the alienable and disposable land are prime agricultural areas, 6.1 million hectares are highly suitable for cultivation.


FARM SYSTEM/STRUCTURE


Philippine agriculture is characterized by a mixture of small, medium and large farms.

Majority of the farms in the country are all small farms averaging about 2 hectares. These are simple farms which are owned and managed by single families ranging from subsistence to commercial production.

Farming is generally undertaken on small farms. Two-thirds of all farms in 1988 were no larger than three hectares. Eighty-five percent of all farms were no more than five hectares. Over a period of ten years ending in 1996, the proportion of small farms had been expanding. The Philippine Agrarian Reform Council Secretariat reported that the government had acquired and distributed about 4.1 million hectares of agricultural lands to agrarian reform beneficiaries. Under this Program implementing the comprehensive agrarian reform law, a farm household cannot own a farm larger than five hectares. A typical farming system consists of a major crops, with rice, corn and coconut as common base crops, and a few heads of livestock and poultry.

Rice, corn, coconut and many crops are principally produced by small farms. Prior to CARP, there were large plantations in rubber, coffee, oil palm, cacao, banana, pineapple, etc. Contract growing schemes operate in corn seeds, banana, tomato, cucumber, oil palm, asparagus and broiler chicken.


AGRICULTURE IN THE ECONOMY




Philippine agriculture plays a vital role in the economy. This attaches the high priority of transforming agriculture into a modern, dynamic and competitive sector. A sustained expansion of the national economy requires sustained growth in the agricultural sector.

Agriculture including forestry and fishery, plays a dominant role in the Philippine economy. The country's population is predominantly rural (70 percent of the total) and two-thirds of this population depends on farming for their livelihood. In terms of employment, about one-half of the labor force is engaged in agricultural activities.

Primarily, Philippine agriculture consisted of rice, corn, coconut, sugar, banana, livestock, poultry, other crops and fishery production activities.

The sector's contribution to the economy has been substantial 23% of gross domestic product in 1995. It registered a growth rate of 3.2%. The growth was mainly due to the expansion of the poultry, livestock, and palay subsectors.

http://www.da.gov.ph/n_sub.php?pass=about/profile.htm&banner=3

DYNAMIC SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE WORKS HARD FOR NEW MARKETS FOR PHILIPPINE MANGOES...

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (left) guarantees Mr. He Rirong (center) and Mr. Hong Xiaojun of China’s Department for Supervision on Animals and Plants, that the Philippines is ready to improve its current facilities for quality control system as well as procedures and regulations to respond to China’s standard requirements for imported mangoes during a courtesy call on August 2, 2011 at the DA Central Office. The Chinese delegates are here in the country to visit and evaluate six mango treatment facility sites in Manila and Mindanao. (Photo by: Kathrino Resurreccion, DA-Information Service)

PHILIPPINE PROVINCE MANGO GROWERS ASSOCIATION (PALAWAN) SEEKS TO HAVE QUARANTINE LIFTED THAT HAS BEEN IN EFFECT SINCE 1987

PIA Press Release
Tuesday, August 09, 2011


Conditional lifting of mango quarantine sought

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, August 9 (PIA) -- The conditional lifting of the Palawan mango quarantine is being sought in a provincial resolution authored by the Provincial Board Member Derrick Pablico, Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Aquatic Resources.



The resolution appeals to Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso J. Alcala to favorably act on the petition of the Mango Growers Association of Palawan which urges for the regulated or conditional lifting of the mango quarantine.



The quarantine on all Palawan mangoes is in effect by virtue of the Special Quarantine Administrative Order No. 20 of the Bureau of Plant Industry issued in 1987.



The quarantine was imposed at the start of the mango pulp weevil infestation which was affecting the southern municipalities of the province. The quarantine restricts until today the transport and marketing of locally-produced mangoes outside of the province.



The resolution reasons that recent scientific and technological breakthroughs in the mango pulp weevil research attest to the fact that the infestation can be controlled and pest-free verification and certification of Palawan mangoes is already possible.`



Scientifically known as Sternochetus frigidus (Fabr), mango pulp weevil is that “wormy” thing found inside the mango fruit that burrows and attacks the flesh of the fruit. There are no signs of the weevil on the outside of the fruit. The pest is found only in Palawan in the Philippines, and in Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia.



The petitioner, Mango Growers Association of Palawan, has an inventory of 248,000 mature mango trees in the entire province which produce only 20-25% of their potential yield because growers have limited market due to the quarantine.



The 24-year quarantine has already resulted to billion-peso losses in income and thousands in potential jobs.



The association is also seeking for the establishment of integrated mango processing/packing center to ensure the non-destructive screening and certification of mango pulp weevil-free fruits.



The provincial resolution is now under study in the Committee on Agriculture and Aquatic Resources and Committee on Rules and Laws. (vsm/pia-palawan)

SARANGANI PROVINCE. PHILIPPINES TO BE FOCUS OF POTENTIAL "OFF SEASON" MANGO PRODUCTION AT UPCOMING MANGO CONGRESS...

Increased mango production in Mindanao sought

By Bong S. Sarmiento                                                                                                       

| Monday| August 8, 2011 





KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/07 August) — Farmers in Mindanao have been urged to plant more mangoes to boost the country’s production and increase its competitiveness in the international markets.

Fred Dumasis, president of the Sarangani Federation of Fruit Industry Associations, Inc., said they will discuss the potentials of mango production in the region during the 13th National Mango Congress in Glan, Sarangani province on September 28-30.

“We would like to highlight the Soccsksargen Region, especially Sarangani province, as a viable location for off-season mango production,” said Dumasis, whose group is the congress’ lead organizer.

“Soccsksargen” actually refers to Region 12 or Southwestern Mindanao. It comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato City.

Dumasis explained that the region’s vast land area and favorable agro-climatic condition “make it an ideal location for year-round mango production” and could host critical support service facilities such as hot-water treatment, vapor heat treatment plants and packing houses.

“Through the conference, we hope that our local mango growers will be encouraged to expand production and improve quality, and consequently, help boost our industry’s exports,” he said in a statement.

Themed “Positioning the Philippine Mango Strongly in the World Market,” the congress specifically aims to help local producers better understand and comply with the quality requirements of foreign markets which include Japan, China, Hong Kong and South Korea.

The conference will also showcase areas in Mindanao which have the potential to become mango production areas, update farmers on the latest production technologies, and share best production practices among industry stakeholders.

Last year, mango production in Region 12 increased to 44,413.44 metric tons from 42,229.16 in 2009, data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics showed.

Around 500 growers, processors, consolidators, exporters and ancillary service providers from across the country are expected to attend the three-day event.

The congress will also feature plenary sessions on the prevailing industry situation, emerging market trends, logistics, and government support programs for the mango industry.

To cap the event, conference delegates are expected to submit proposed action plans to the national government, including proposals on how industry players and relevant government agencies can work together to ensure the mango industry’s continued growth and expansion in the coming years.

Philippine mangoes have gained a foothold in the Asian market. 

 The country is the biggest supplier of fresh mangoes to Hong Kong, accounting for 39% of the latter’s mango imports in 2003, data from the Growth with Equity in Mindanao showed.

The Philippines is also a major supplier of mangoes to Japan, accounting for almost 63% of the country’s fresh mango requirements. 

The Philippines also exports mangoes to South Korea, mainland China, Singapore and the United States, it added.

GEM is a project funded by the United States Agency for International Development. (Bong S. Sarmiento/MindaNews)

POSITIONING PHILIPPINE MANGOES IN THE WORLD MARKET WILL BE THE THEME FOR THE 13TH MANGO CONFERENCE

National Mango Congress to highlight need for global competitiveness                                                                                                       

GLAN, Sarangani Province, August 7 (PIA) -- Increasing the competitiveness of Philippine mangoes in international markets and developing more production areas in Mindanao will be the focus of this year’s 13th National Mango Congress.



Themed “Positioning the Philippine Mango Strongly in the World Market,” the congress specifically aims to help local producers better understand and comply with the quality requirements of foreign markets which include Japan, China, Hong Kong and South Korea.



The conference will also showcase areas in Mindanao which have the potential to become mango production areas, update farmers on the latest production technologies, and share best production practices among industry stakeholders.



Around 500 growers, processors, consolidators, exporters and ancillary service providers from across the country are anticipated to attend the three-day event which will be held in the resort town of Glan in Sarangani Province, an emerging tourist destination in Southern Mindanao.



“We would like to highlight the Soccksargen Region especially Sarangani Province 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.



Dumasis explained that the region’s vast land area and favorable agro-climatic condition make it an ideal location for year-round mango production and could host critical support service facilities such as hot-water treatment (HWT), vapor heat treatment (VHT) plants and packing houses.



“Through the conference, we hope that our local mango growers will be encouraged to expand production and improve quality, and consequently, help boost our industry’s exports,” he added.



The congress will also feature plenary sessions on the prevailing industry situation, emerging market trends, logistics, and government support programs for the mango industry.



To cap the event, conference delegates are expected to submit proposed action plans to the national government, which contain proposals on how industry players and relevant government agencies can work together to ensure the mango industry’s continued growth and expansion in the coming years.



Philippine mangoes have gained a foothold in the Asian market. The country is the biggest supplier of fresh mangoes to Hong Kong, accounting for 39% of the latter’s mango imports in 2003.



The Philippines is also a major supplier of mangoes to Japan, accounting for almost 63% of the country’s fresh mango requirements. The Philippines also exports mangoes to South Korea, mainland China, Singapore and the United States.



USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program, in partnership with the Mindanao Fruit Industry Council (MinFruit) and the Department of Agriculture, has over the years been helping to enhance the production methods of small-hold fruit and vegetable farmers across Mindanao, while linking them with prospective local and foreign buyers. (DED/PIA 12/DA 12)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=47596