Improving mango production using indigenous techniques

The latest situationer report of the Agribusiness and Marketing Services of the Department of Agriculture (DA-AMAS) states that world mango production averages 22 million metric tons annually. Asia contributes 77% of the total world production wherein the Philippines ranks 5th in Asia, contributing about 4% of the total amount of mangoes produced every year.

Export revenues

A large chunk of our export revenues on mango is generated through marketing fresh mangoes, garnering about three-fourths of the total export value. The DA-AMAS reported that a rise and fall of Philippines’ export of mangoes was seen from 1995 up to 1999. However, we were second in the world’s list of top exporters of mango from 1996-1998 with an average growth rate of 14.32%. Hong Kong, Japan, and US are the top importers of our fresh, dried and pureed mangoes. Although our rate of production is fluctuating, we remain to be among the world’s top producer and exporter of this much coveted fruit, opening several windows of opportunity for our export industry and the agribusiness sector.

Premium variety

The “Carabao” variety produced in our country is recognized as one of the best tasting fruits of its kind. Region I, particularly Pangasinan province gives a lion share of mango production in the country followed by Region IV (Batangas, Quezon, Cavite).

However, there are still necessary improvements in crop protection and postharvest handling to further develop our mango industry. Although a number of modern technologies have been introduced to control the quality of our fruits, e.g. cryogenic freezing, most of these are utilized only by big industries.

Indigenous crop protection

A study on indigenous techniques for crop protection was conducted by Orden, M. M., Paderes A. S., Aveno, J. L., and Santos, A. L. of the Central Luzon State University (CLSU). They determined the effects of bagging and pruning technologies on the productivity, cost, and income of mango growers in major producing areas in the Philippines. The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) funded the study which was completed in August 2003. The research was made based on the premise that pruning technology improves productivity of mango trees while bagging the fruits reduces insect infestation and other mechanical damages.

Determining nationwide effect

The study was involved the top 27 mango producing municipalities of Pangasinan and Zambales in Luzon, Cebu and Guimaras in Visayas, and Davao del Sur in Mindanao. A total of 322 mango growers and contractors were interviewed nationwide.

The study determined the effects of bagging and pruning technology on fruit quality as well as the proportion of fruits accepted for export. Yield and income were used as indicators of productivity. Cost and return analysis was made to determine the profitability of the technologies. Since pest management gets a big portion of cost, profit analysis was done to determine the pest management cost (PMC) using the indigenous technologies.

Bagging

Based on the results of the study, majority of the growers/contractors in Pangasinan, Zambales, Guimaras and Davao use local newspapers as bagging materials. Bagging of mango fruits is done 55 to 60 days after flower induction (DAFI). At this stage, the fruits that are the size of a thumb or teaspoon are still free from pests and diseases. Bagging reduced the number of chemical sprayings from seven to five, slashing 22% off the cost of chemical control. Bagging also improved the quality of fruits since latex burn and other mechanical damage were reduced.

Pruning

The study found that the mango growers practiced three pruning techniques: conventional, center, and traditional pruning. Center was the preferred technique because it allows better sunlight penetration at the center of the fruit tree. It also resulted to the dwarfing of the trees that made management of the fruits easier.

The growers observed a reduction in pest and disease occurrence through pruning and thus, an increase in mango production.

https://www.bar.gov.ph/index.php/digest-home/digest-archives/80-2005-3rd-quarter/4485-julsep05-mango-production