By BERNIE CAHILES-MAGKILAT
The country’s mango export is expected to get a boost once Guimaras province has been granted “Geographical Indication” for being the site of the world famous mango, which production has been reduced by 30 percent due to erratic weather condition.
Guimaras governor Felipe Hilan A. Nava said in a press conference conducted by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) during a seminar on “Geographical Indication” that they expect to resume exports to the US market after five years following the inspection by the US Department of Agriculture on Guimaras mangoes last year.
According to Nava, the mango production in Guimaras has dwindled to 7,000 to 8,000 metric tons from a peak 12,000 MT five years ago because of erratic weather condition. Of this production, only 40 percent can be exported.
The US and Australia have allowed Guimaras mangoes to enter their markets. But there had been no exports to the US in the last five years because they could not compete with the price of mangoes from Mexico.
Mexico, which has been promoting the Manila mango variety, has been exporting mangoes to the U.S. for only $9 per box as against the Philippines $40 per box.
According to Nava, Marsman Drysdale used to operate the Oro Berde mango plantation in Guimaras, but stopped because it was placed under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. Marsman was only left with 100 hectares. Likewise, DOLE Philippines’ mango project in the province did not prosper due to poor production.
Nava, however, said that the initiative of the IPOPHL for the registration of “GI”, there could be a renewed interest for mango farming in the province. He said that mango growing in Guimaras is largely a backyard livelihood and a form of a cash crop.
Guimaras mangoes are being sold at premium P60 to P80 a kilo farmgate prices. Customers even pay for P100 per kilo.
IPOPHL director-general Ricardo Blancaflor said the seminar hopes to come up with a draft “GI Bill” that would pave the way for the registration of qualified “GI” products in the country.
The designation of a region as a “GI” provides protection to the unique native products originating from that particular region in the country. These Gis consists of the name of the place from which a product origi-nated. It is a sign used on goods that possess characteristics, qualifies or a reputation essentially attributable to their geographic origin.
Manila Bulletin Publications
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