Photo courtesy of Ramon FVelasquez / Wikimedia Commons
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Many farmers in Davao Region are gradually giving up mango production as sustaining the business affected by climate change have left them cash-strapped, an agricultural leader said.
Richard Olores, president of Samahang Magmamangga ng Davao Region Inc. (SMDRI), said the production ratio in the region alone has greatly decreased from the previous years’ eight to 12 tons per hectare average to this year’s three to five tons per hectare.
He pointed that many stakeholders was forced to quit business due to “high cost of inputs”.
“It is really hard to manage,” Olores told reporters on Wednesday, October 11.
SMRDI Secretary Wilfredo Sebuco identified uncontrollable pest destruction, poor farm to market access, and the lack of knowledge on new technologies as among the challenges the growers face.
Sebuco added that climate change has also turned harvesting high-quality mangoes into a huge challenge.
“Too much high pressure on temperature causes decline in fruiting. If the temperature is very low, it also affects production,” Sebuco said.
He mentioned that these existing problems push farmers to sell it to land developers instead.
“If farmers see that their mango plantations do not have enough economic return, they opt to sell it,” Sebuco said.
Sebuco said they hope to tackle these concerns and come up with new initiatives with stakeholders from Davao region and other towns in the 1st Regional Mango Summit which will be held here on October 19-20. (davaotoday.com)
