Micro-orchard, anyone?

Over at Barangay Adorable, San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija, Mango Grove is an eight-hectare plantation of the Carabao mango variety which utilizes the profitable business of Mango farming for anyone who wants to have an extra income and a quality of life with virtually no effort.

Seven hectares of the Grove have been subdivided into eight phases consisting of 1,000 Micro orchards at 64 sq.m. each. One micro orchard has one mango tree.

"A single 30-year old mango tree," according to Tony Rola, chairman of the technical working group (TWG) on inputs and production technology under the National Mango Action Team of the Department of Agriculture," can produce 20-40 kaings at 20 kilos per kaing annually."

This translates to an earning of P4,000-P8,000 if fruits are sold at P10/kilo during the harvest months of May to June and anywhere between P14,000-P40,000 during the off-season when mango prices range from P35-P60 per kilo.

The income gets bigger as the tree ages, with the mangoes’ life span reaching up to a hundred years.

Rola serves as consultant of the Management Team that runs Mango Grove, which has 228 eight year old trees that produced 800 kilos of fruits last May and 200 ten month old trees. Some 572 nine-month old trees more shall be planted.

Prospective lot owners may purchase a 64 sq.m. mango lot for P65,000. Initial requirement is P20,000 down payment and the balance of P45,000 to be paid in 12 installments of P3,750 per month at zero interest. An individual title shall be issued to the lot owner once the lot has been fully paid.

The Grove management will maintain the farm, harvest and sell the produce of the orchard for the lot owner.

"Many people have the misconception that one can only make money out of their mango farms when their trees start to bear fruit," Rola said.

"Mango growing is a lucrative agribusiness because of the value-adding collateral agri-ventures that one can have in a mango orchard. While the spaces between the trees are still open, the orchard owner can plant them to cash crops such as vegetables, corn, papaya, pineapple, calamansi, gabi, etc. The type of intercrops to be planted at Mango Grove are all high end vegetables."

The remaining 1.2737 hectare not used for mango trees will be converted into a native park resort. Micro orchard owners may enjoy such amenities as an outdoor sauna, an herbal spa, Spanish-inspired villas, cuisine restaurant, a fishing lagoon, swimming pool and horse-drawn carriages at discounted rates.

Interested parties may call 6873727 or 0918-9336642 for more information or e-mail mango–[email protected].