BALANGA, Bataan—Mango growers from the province trained by the Bataan Peninsula State University have adopted science and technology farming techniques for better production.
The BPSU and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) have implemented Science and Technology Community-Based Farming on mango production in Bataan involving 15 farmer-cooperators from Balanga and Abucay towns from 2013 to 2015.
Dr. Hermogenes Paguia, BPSU OIC vice president for Research, Extension, and Training Services and project leader, said science and technology interventions were performed by cooperators on their respective mango farms as part of the project for two consecutive years.
The farmer-cooperators underwent trainings and seminars on technology transfer and technical management to further develop their capability.
The university vice president said the project was being sustained by the Bataan Mango Growers Association’s 35 members from Balanga and Abucay towns who contributed a capital share of P20,000 each for flower induction of mango orchards.
The 15 farmer-cooperators of the project are members of the association.
He also said the association would perform mango spraying as form of extension services and income generation.
The association will also provide services such as pruning and bagging of fruits.
Paguia said mango growers would undergo continuous capability building to enhance their skills for improved mango production to be conducted by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Office of the Municipal Agriculturist, and City Agriculture Office.
He said they wanted to have mango buying station and packing house by consolidators with hot treatment facility.
He said the support of local government units and Department of Agriculture was vital to this plan.
A project proposal is being prepared to seek Commission on Higher Education and Department of Science and Technology funding support which, if approved, would cover five mango-growing LGUs.