IBA, Zambales – The provincial government is boosting mango production in Zambales through modern farming technologies and capacity-building initiatives aimed at enhancing yield and ensuring sustainability.
Part of these efforts is the Zambales Mango Green Valley Project, the provincial government’s flagship program launched last year to increase production, encourage adoption of modern farming technologies, and promote good agricultural practices for long-term profitability.
Zambales Mango Industry Council Technical Working Group Head Domingo Mariano said the project has now entered its second phase, which focuses on rehabilitating 20,800 mango trees through improved farm management, fertilization, and irrigation.
With a P40-million budget, the initiative aims to raise the province’s mango yield from 2.3 tons per hectare to the national average of 12 tons per hectare.
“We’re now aiming for 12 tons, too. This is the more important and more difficult part of sustaining the mango industry because we have to exponentially increase quantity without sacrificing quality to make local mangoes more competitive,” Mariano said.
To achieve this, the provincial government is implementing modern agricultural techniques that enhance productivity and maintain the premium quality of Zambales mangoes.
The project is a collaborative effort among the Provincial Agriculture Office, President Ramon Magsaysay State University, and the Samahan ng Magmamangga ng Zambales (SMZ).
As part of this collaboration, the provincial government allocated P6.4 million to SMZ last December under a conditional assistance program.
The funds were used for pre-spray clearing, flower induction, chemical application, fruit bagging, irrigation, fertilization, security, and harvesting at designated pilot farms.
By 2026, the province is set to launch Phase 3 of the project, focusing on propagating the Sweet Elena mango variety which was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s sweetest mango.
Additionally, the provincial government plans to establish a mango training center and post-harvest processing facility through a usufruct agreement with the Region 3 Mango Stakeholders Association, Inc. under the Department of Agriculture’s High-Value Crops Development Program.
The provincial government is also working on branding, product exportation, and greenhouse cultivation to expand market opportunities for Zambales mangoes.
The Mango Green Valley Project reflects Zambales’ long-term commitment to strengthening its mango industry while integrating modern and sustainable farming practices. (MJSC/RGP, PIA Region 3-Zambales)