Climate change threatens Guimaras mango

MANILA, Philippines – The erratic weather pattern, which has been attributed to climate change, is now taking its toll on the production of the “sweetest” mango in the world.

The National Mango Research and Development Center (NMRDC) based in Guimaras, touted as the home of the sweetest mango in the world, recently noted a decline in the production of the popular fruit, as shown in price increases despite the peak season.

Rhod Orquia, junior researcher at the NMRDC, said mango production in Guimaras is being threatened by climate change since the shifting trend in the onset of rains already affects the planting process and harvesting schedule of mangoes.

“Ideally, the harvesting of mango is best during the dry season but because the rains seemed to have arrived earlier than expected now it affects the quality of the mangoes,” Orquia said. “The mangoes become watery if it’s raining.”

Orquia said the unpredictable weather pattern adversely affects the planting and nurturing of the mango trees, as with rainfall at this supposedly dry season or summer, planters who have already put fertilizer on the trees might no longer see best results.

Orquia said farmers are at the losing end since the rain just washes away the fertilizer, which is expected to maximize the generation of flowers that eventually become fruits.

January to April, according to Orquia, is the peak season of mango production in Guimaras, when mango prices used to range from P40 to P45 per kilo. 

This year, however, the price of mangoes hits P50 to as high as P70 per kilo due to lower production.

Orquia, however, could yet give exact figures to support their suspicion on the effect of climate change, specifically the intermittent weather pattern, on mango production since the NMRDC is still compiling the pertinent data.

Aside from the impact of climate change on mango production, Orquia also noted a “slowdown” in the sale of mango seedlings (grafted), which cost P30 apiece, in the last two years because areas suitable for mango production in Guimaras appear to have been saturated.

Nevertheless, Orquia said the NMRDC is taking action to help farmers cope with the effects of erratic weather pattern on mango planting and production.

Orquia said they are giving seminars to farmers on how to manage and monitor mango trees to preserve the good quality that Guimaras mangoes are known for worldwide.

As of 2006, Orquia said Guimaras had 5,509 hectares of land planted to mango trees, largely in Buenavista town in the province’s northern part, and over 7,000 mango growers.