|
Filipinos
are all so proud of our mangoes, which have no parallel in
the world. It's true: I've tasted mangoes from many other
countries but the mangoes grown in Zambales, where the
Pinatubo ashfall seems to have succeeded only in making
mangoes even sweeter, Guimaras and Davao are still the best.
In fact, our lament is that we no longer get to taste the
big kalabaw mangoes since these are exported to foreign
countries where they command fabulous prices or sold to big
restaurants.
During
the President's state visit to Cambodia, among the gifts the
Ramoses gave to their hosts were baskets of kalabaw mangoes,
which ere very much appreciated, although King Sihanouk
couldn't eat too much because of his diabetes. Earlier,
Ambassador Cunanan handcarried from Manila two dozen kalabaw
mangoes and gave them to Cambodia's co-prime ministers,
Prince Ranariddh and Hun Sen. In his thank you letter Prince
Ranariddh extolled the excellent quality of our fruit and
said he enjoyed them very much.
The bad news is that, as Australian business executive
Peter Wallace put in his monthly business update, Philippine
Alert, this country is in danger of losing its position as
the leading mango exporter as other Southeast Asia
countries, particularly Thailand, have started getting into
the mango export market. Wallace said the belief that only
RP can produce the best mangoes "no longer holds true".
Research efforts by the Thai government have resulted in the
development of the Chocke Anan variety, which is said to
resemble, the size, shape and sweetness of the kalabaw
mango. Wallace said Thailand is developing over 350,000
hectares for its Chocke Anan and Nam Doc Mai mango
varieties. With commercial production expected to start in
two years, industry experts believe that the Philippines has
little chance to complete since the Philippines only has
65,000 hectares planted to mangoes.
Other countries that are trying to cash in on the
lucrative mango market, according to Wallace, are Malaysia,
Indonesia and Taiwan. Malaysia is developing the Haru Manis
mango variety into a lead export item, devoting 9,000
hectares to it. Taiwan and Indonesia have the apple mango
and Golek, respectively.
This news should alarm our mango exporters and the
government, but this seems to be the story of many of our
products. I must note that in terms of research and
development, mahina tayo - "talung-talo" ng Thailand and
Taiwan. Those of us who travels periodically abroad were
embarrassed no end whenever we are asked why we cannot
attain rice self-sufficient when we have the IRRI in our
midst. Someday our mangoes will only be a dream only if we
don't wake up. |
