SUSTAINABLE MANGO PRODUCTION IN BATAAN THROUGH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS AND SUPPORT MECHANISMS FOR CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This institutionalized research cum extension project through community-based model farms (CBMF) was conducted from January 2021- May 2022 at the eight GAP mango farms in Bataan. Farmer cooperators received soft loans in the form of pesticides amounting to PhP 28,000.00 intended for 50 carabao mango trees. Fruit bagging using large-size waxed papers and newsprint fruit bags were used to determine the efficiency of each material for mango. Trained 296 mango farmers and technicians on GAP and ICM from nine trainings conducted by the project team. Additional seven mango farms were awarded GAP accreditation. A net income of PhP 63,476.00 was recorded from the five (5) CBMFs. An income of PhP 97,200, PhP 225,000 and PhP 240,000 were recorded from the control, conventional bagging, and fruit cluster bagging, respectively. The application of cluster and conventional bagging of fruits remarkably produced more and quality fruits of 128 kg and 120 kg per tree, as compared with the control of 77.76 kg per tree. The results proved that the bagged fruits would assure or even guarantee a high rate of quality fruits and income. The project is institutionalized for being one of the commodity research agenda of the University. The creation of Bataan Mango Development Council was also initiated to lead the programs and road map for the mango of the province.