World Bank Funds Project to Boost Guimaras Mango Production

TALK ABOUT A SWEET DEAL. To convince more small farmers to grow quality mangoes, the World Bank is funding 60 percent of an P18-million project in Guimaras. according to the Chief of the Guimaras Agricultural Office Ronnie Morante.

The project aims to boost the production of Guimaras mangoes, which is said to be one of the fruit’s sweetest varieties.

Currently, only 40 percent of the 279,822 trees in the province are utilized for mango production. The farmers are not interested in going into mango production because they only earn 20 percent from the total profit. This low profit sharing will change, according to Morante, once the project has been completed.

The project will include the construction of a P9-million processing plant where mangoes will undergo treatment and quality check before shipping to both domestic and international markets.

Initially, the marketability of Guimaras mangoes has already been improved by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through its geographical branding. The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Guimaras provincial government under Governor Samuel Gumarin are also involved in funding the project.

via Manila Bulletin / Tara Yap