Healthier diet may boost PHL mango demand abroad

By BEVERLY PAOYON

GUMASA, Glan, Sarangani (October 3, 2011) – Global demand for fresh fruits, including mangoes from the Philippines, may rise as consumers shift to healthier diets.

This was the upbeat outlook shared by Ross Wherry, chief of party of the United States Agency for International Development - Growth with Equity in Mindanao Program (USAID-GEM), to the delegates of the 13th National Mango Congress on September 29.

In positioning the Philippine mango to the global market, he said “strong partnership and efficient teamwork with various players in the value chain is extremely important.”

The “favorable climatic and geographic advantages” in Mindanao made it to be in the excellent position to take advantage of this market trend.

Clearly, Wherry said, the continuing expansion of fruit industry specifically mangoes “is starting to boost the economic growth in Mindanao and is also helping to create a more conducive and vibrant (place) for peace and development.”

According to Wherry, thousands of jobs are directly generated by this industry while thousands of farmers are also being able to access with the sector for their livelihood.

USAID is currently helping fruit growers and processors “expand access into lucrative markets such as China, Japan, South Korea, the Middle East, United States and Europe,” Wherry said. However, he encouraged accountability from the sector that “(We will) help but you have to sell.”

USAID is providing wide-ranging technical assistance to thousands of producers in Mindanao like trainings on farming technologies, among others.

Wherry said his agency was proud to see the assistance of the American government which has facilitated especially in terms of job, income and export for revenues.

“We are proud to see Mindanao taking center stage in this year’s mango congress because Mindanao is emerging as a supplier of high quality fresh and processed mangoes into many parts of the world.”

“Over the years,” Wherry said, “Mindanao has made much progress in developing its agricultural and processing sectors, while forming strong producer associations. Over time, they developed into dynamic associations with national networks and set their sights on the export market.”(Beverly C. Paoyon/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)