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).
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 the 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. ###
