The mango-growing region of Southern Mindanao in the Philippines has fallen short of 4 season-long government targets, the Southern Mindanao Mango Council (SMMC) has revealed.
Mango production was pegged at 5.5 tonnes per hectare per season between 2004 and 2008, well down on the government's forecast of an average of 10 tonnes per hectare during the period.
Unfavourable weather and a lack of good agricultural practice have been cited as the reasons for the slump in production, according to Mindo Cudo of the SMMC.
Additionally, a move by many growers in the region to farm alternative crops has seen a reduction in mango production area - from over 18,000ha in 2004 to just over 16,500ha in 2005, Mr Cudo said.
SMMC's Tony Teh said that low prices and stringent export standards had discouraged growers from expanding their orchards. 'The stiff rules set by export markets, specifically Japan, have lowered interest among mango exporters to increase production areas,' he said.
