Innovation boosts mango farm’s production

Davao del Sur produces one of the sweetest and best mangoes in the country. 
Mango growers attribute this to its distinct dry season which for years, the Belcris Farm, a noted mango plantation in the Digos City had taken advantage of.
“But depending on favorable weather to produce best quality mangoes is not enough. It requires careful attention, effective cultural management and of course huge financial expenses,” said Alexander Navales, the plantation’s manager.
Having entrusted with the day-to-day operations in the farm, Navales who is one of the farmer scientists of the Southern Mindanao Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (SMARRDEC) is challenged to find ways that will make their mango production viable and profitable.
“We cannot just rely on applications of chemicals as their prices continuously increase. We need to improve our farm practices to have a better and higher harvest at a lower cost,” he said.
Navales said this was realized when their mango plantation was tapped as one of the Science and Technology-based Farming (STBF). The STBF is a project of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources (PCARRD) and SMARRDEC which aims to showcase the benefits of technology application in agricultural production.
Improved crop management
One of the improved practices in Belcris Farm is the judicious application chemicals and pesticides which Navales considered beneficial as it restores the ecological balance in the farm.
“The chemical we are using is not in broad spectrum so as not to destroy the beneficial insects as well as the natural pollinators,” he said.
For flower induction, mango trees are sprayed with potassium nitrate (KNO3) together with commercial sticker where the first flower induction is done for the early season production and second induction for the late season production.
Navales said it is in the second season or off-season production that farmers in Mindanao must take advantage if they want to increase their profit.
“Normally, mango harvest in Luzon and Visayas is peak during summer season and weaken from July to December due to unfavorable weather. If you produce mango during the lean months then you can sell your produce in much higher price,” he said.
Navales also found out the calcium nitrate (CNO3) a cheaper alternative to expensive KNO3     which to him the effects are basically the same. While some also find Paclobutrazol also cheaper, he observed its disadvantages as it accelerates the maturity of the leaves making it more stressful and difficult to rejuvenate.  
Navales strongly discourage mango farmers from “cocktailing”, a term used when two or more pesticides are mixed to control various pest infestations. 
“Farmers should strictly follow directions on agrochemical use and handling.  Excessive use of pesticides is destructive both for the human and environment,” he said.
Aside from pest management, Navales said another factor that affects the quality of mango fruit right maturity which is usually starts from 105 days after flower induction (DAFI).
“Immature fruits results to poor quality.  Our buyers are assured of the quality mangoes since we harvest our fruits not earlier than 105 days DAFI to ensure them of its consistent sweetness and taste,” Navales said.      
Innovative hot water treatment
In controlling anthracnose and stem end-rot, the two major postharvest diseases of mango fruits, Belcris farm practices hot water treatment (HWT).  This is done by dipping the fruits for ten minutes in water heated to 52-550C followed by cooling in tap water for another ten minutes before being dried and packed.
“Although it ensure quality and prolong the shelf-life of mango fruits, it is also time consuming.  We are glad that this method was already modified through a research study conducted right here in our farm,” Navales said relating to the high temperature short term dip (HTSTD) technology.
HTSTD shortened the period of dipping the fruits from ten minutes to only 30 seconds to 1 minute in water heated to 59-600C.
“The new water treatment method is very effective and shortened the waiting period allowing us to treat and deliver high volume of fruits in one day,” he said.
The HTSTD treatment Navales said should be applied within 36 hours after harvest when mangoes are still green to get the desired degree of disease control. He observed that mangoes subjected to this new treatment ripen uniformly with bright yellow peel without affecting the flavor and aroma of the ripe fruit.  
Applying the recommended technologies in mango production has posted much higher return on investment for Belcris farm.  The average yield per tree has increased from 153.84 to 266.66 or 58 percent.  The net income per tree was increased from P1, 995.00 to P3, 783.89  or a return on investment of 53percent.
Navales said their farm’s improved production and increased in income was made possible through the application of recommended technologies
“Through STBF, we were able to produce high-quality mango fruits without compromising ecological balance and gained higher profit because of the reduced production cost,” Navales said.