The mango sector in Ilocus Sur might not be as big like those in Pangasinan or Ilocos Norte, but their sizeable market encompasses Region 1 and beyond.
Representatives from the Department of Agriculture’s Region 1 office, the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance (AMAS), and FRLD met with Ruben Cortez and members of the Mango Stakeholders Association of Ilocos Sur at San Vicente, Ilocos Sur, to discuss the challenges in their sector, primarily cecid fly infestation. The pest control and management practices they’ve recently adopted have helped them mitigate the negative impact of cecid fly in their mango farms, but there is surely a lot more to be done — from increasing post-harvest processing capabilities to reduce wastage and losses to marketing their produce in more local and international markets.
Agrilink 2023 will serve as a platform for farmers, government agencies, and private stakeholders to come together, strengthen linkages, and explore ways to revive the global prominence of Philippine mango. Visit agrilink.com.ph to learn more.