RP mango can now reach distant markets – study

Successful – again.

For the second time, a scientific technology has proven that Philippine "Carabao" mango can reach distant markets in good condition.

In the first trial done at the Food Terminal, Inc. (FTI) in Taguig, Metro Manila, mango used in the research lasted for 28 days (Feb. 18-March 18, 2006) with the application of the controlled atmosphere (CA) technology.

In the second trial, also conducted at FTI, the mango lasted for 29 days (May 13-June 11).

The implication of the two trials: the Philippines can now export mango to distant places such as the Middle East, North America and Europe.

The protocol on controlled atmosphere technology entails the storage of fresh mango under certain conditions to delay their ripening and prolong their shelf life, enabling them to reach far markets with their good quality intact.

University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) researchers led by Dr. Concepcion Lizada began developing the technology in the 1990s.

The protocol for export quality carabao mango was subsequently adopted by the Los Baños-based Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council For Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCARRD) through its S&T Anchor Program for Mango.

The development of the protocol was funded by DOST and collaborated by the UPLB-Postharvest Horticulture Training and Research Center (PHTRC), Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Diamond Star Agro-Products, Inc. (DSAPI), Maersk Line Philippines, mango suppliers and contractors from Pangasinan.

CA involves keeping fresh fruit mangoes in an atmosphere of low oxygen and high carbon dioxide in combination with low temperature.

"This is achieved by replacing those gases with nitrogen by means of nitrogen generator attached to a container van," explained DOST, PCARRD, and DOST-Industrial Technology and Development Institute (ITDI) in a joint report.

Before storing the 1,154 pieces of carabao mangoes procured from the Pangasinan towns of Bugallon and Basista in a container van owned by DSAPI, these are subjected to disease management strategies, before and after harvest, to ensure high degree of disease (stem-end rot and anthracnose) control during long-term storage.

Among those present when the van containing the mangoes in the second trial was opened last June 11 were PCARRD executive director Dr. Patricio S. Faylon, deputy executive director Dr. Danilo Cardenas, and crops research division director Dr. Joy Eusebio; CLSU president Dr. Rodolfo Undan and Engr. Francisco Cuaresma; Vice Chancellor Mario Perilla, Dr. Elga Esguerra, and Dr. Oscar Opiña of UPLB; former Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor; Dino Tenorio and Larry Fernandez of DSAPI; Angel Bulay of Maersk Sealand; Agriculture editor/writer Zac Saria, and this writer.

Like expectant parents, those who were present waited with bated breath for the opening of the boxes containing the mangoes.

They applauded when the first unblemished mango was taken out of the first box. They later partook of the examples given to the crowd.

An earlier experiment done at UPLB-PHTRC had optimized the controlled atmosphere conditions for the carabao mango using improved container plastic jars. The result served as a model for commercial testing.

A succeeding experiment at the CLSU in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, used the information from PHTRC and tested them in a prototype container van setup constructed with automatic controls and equipped with nitrogen generator, cooling system, oxygen and carbon dioxide meter, and humidifier.

"The results confirmed that low temperature, low oxygen, high carbon dioxide, and high relative humidity with adequate nitrogen can delay mango fruit ripening up to 29 days," DOST, PCARRD, and ITDI stated in a joint report.

On the project’s significance, they concluded: "Having developed a protocol to improve the quality and shelf life of mango fruits which involves both the integrated cultural and disease management program and the use of controlled atmosphere, the Philippine mango industry becomes competitive and ready to meet the global export requirements for mango." – Rudy A. Fernandez