IBA, Zambales, March 20, 2013-Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala on Wednesday assured Mango stakeholders of his agency’s full support to the industry.
In a message during the opening of the 15th National Mango Congress in Iba town, Alcala said “Mango is one of the prime commodities in DA’s High Value Crops Development Program as it is one of the country’s export winners. The Philippines was able to export 21,000 metric tons in mango-based products that is worth $16M and around 9,400 metric tons of fresh mangoes as well that is valued at $79.5M.”
“Count on DA to continue providing the necessary production and logistics support such as provision of potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate, seedlings, plastic drums and, power sprayers. In turn, we depend on the support of the private sector and local government to our programs specifically strengthening associations and providing counterpart funding” Alcala added.
“Forming strong relations will make it easier to implement programs while more funding ensures more beneficiaries” the Agriculture chief emphasized.
The three-day confab of mango producers, farmers, marketers, scientists, and enthusiasts from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao featured sessions which were anchored on the theme “Increasing mango farmers’ income by stabilizing domestic prices through mango tourism, synchronized mango production, and efficient handling system.”
Topics that were discussed include insect resistance management including improving pesticide use and choice, and updates on the control of Cecid Fly and Capsid Bud; minimum residue level and traceability thru good laboratory practices; biological control of leafhoppers; biological control of anthracnose and diplodia; status of National Organic Act for Mango; nursery/scion grove certification and updates on researches for mango; quantifying postharvest losses in the mango value chain; developing of appropriate packaging, handling, and transport system along the mango value chain in the Philippines; updates on postharvest technology for mango; and status of mango processing in Zambales.
Also tackled were implication of ASEAN economic community by 2015 on Philippine fruit industry; latest packaging and marketing trends in mango observed in other countries; importance of tree pruning and nutrition to sustainable mango production; minimizing risks to chemical exposure of spraymen through development of farm implements; proposed accident and life insurance for mango workers; increasing export recovery through improved harvesting tools; and sharing of mango production technologies and mango cultural practices observed in other countries.
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