Davao City – Mango is the front and center in the first-ever virtual Farms and Industry Encounters through Science and Technology Agenda (FIESTA) with the theme, “Sustainable, Well-Enhanced, and Efficient Technologies (SWEET) on Mangoes”, from December 3, 9-10 & 16-17, 2021.
Spearheaded by Southern Mindanao Agriculture Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (SMAARRDEC) in collaboration with the Visayas Consortium for Agriculture Aquatic and Natural Resources Program (ViCARP) and the SOCCSKSARGEN Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (SOXAARRDEC), the FIESTA gathered virtually about 100 mango farmers across regions particularly those from regions 8, 11 and 12.
Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, Executive Director of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) said that FIESTA is a platform for sharing science and technology research breakthroughs to stakeholders, linking farmers to the market. The conduct of science FIESTA started in 2014 which is DOST-PCAARRD’s initiative in disseminating and commercializing matured technologies generated by regional/local experts.
As mango is considered a high-value commercial crop that provides livelihood to about 2.5M farmers nationwide; The DOST-PCAARRD invested about 15M for the development of ready-for-commercialization technologies implemented in the three (3) regions.
Implemented and ready-for-commercialization technologies include Molecular Markers for Mango Cultivar Identification and Genetic Characterization of University of Southern Philippines (USM), the Dipstick Kit to Detect True-To-Type Philippines Carabao Mango of Visayas State College (VSU), and the Pre-and Postharvest Technologies of the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP).
The development of these projects gave hope for better and enhanced productivity for the mango industry. Furthermore, these projects were funded with the ultimate desire to elevate the livelihood of the small-scale mango farmers using the low-cost technologies generated.
With the conduct of this virtual cluster Mango FIESTA, the adoption and commercialization of these technologies will propel the increase of mango production in the country.
Article by: SMAARDEC
