THE Philippines hopes to further expand its Guimaras mango exports, starting with a 200-kilogram (kg) promotional shipment to Europe and Hong Kong on Tuesday.
The premium variant came from the Philippine Good Agricultural Practice-certified Kokomojo Mango Farm in Sibunag, Guimaras.
The shipment consisted of 50 kg each to the Netherlands and Belgium, and 100 kg to Hong Kong.
The ones for the Netherlands and Belgium — which will enter through Brussels — will serve as a “patikim” (tasting sample) to prospective buyers and industry stakeholders in Europe, where there is growing demand for premium tropical fruits.
The mangoes bound for Hong Kong will be given to diplomats and guests at the 127th Philippine Independence Day celebrations.
Promoting Philippine mangoes to top overseas markets is a strategy in diversifying agricultural exports to create more income opportunities for Filipino farmers, said the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The campaign is supported by the Bureau of Plant Industry, which provided technical, laboratory and regulatory support to ensure that the product complies with international food safety and plant health standards.
The bureau’s Guimaras National Crop Research, Development and Production Support Center assisted mango farmers in implementing good agricultural practices and production technologies.
The Plant Product Safety Services Division, meanwhile, conducted maximum residue limit testing to ensure the mangoes complied with the destination countries’ pesticide standards.
The National Plant Quarantine Services Division facilitated the processing of export permits and phytosanitary certifications to prove that the shipments are free from pests.
“Every new export market we open creates opportunities not only for farmers but also for workers involved in processing, logistics, packaging and distribution. Expanding market access allows producers to secure better prices, increase incomes and invest in improving productivity, helping drive inclusive growth in rural communities,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
“By leveraging science-based regulation, quality assurance and traceability systems, the government seeks to position Philippine fruits more competitively in premium international segments where consumers are willing to pay higher prices for quality and food safety,” said the DA.
