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Nueva Ecija Newsbusters, Jan. 30 -
Feb. 05, 2006 |
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Mango
growers decry 'conspiracy
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by Magtanggol
Vilar |
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CABANATUAN CITY - There
appears to be a deep-seated conspiracy among mango
contractors and manufacturers of chemicals to retard the
fruiting capability of fruiting mango plants in the country.
Mango contractors shoulder the cost of expenses incurred in
inducing the mango plants to bear fruits. They share with
the owner of the tree 20% to 40% of the fruits harvested.
Wittingly, or unwittingly, this practice is sure to
affect the entire mango industry of the country, and, if not
checked immediately, many of the old fruiting mango plant
nationwide would die as had occurred in the case of mango
trees in Zambales, Cebu and other carabao mango producing
provinces.
Urdaneta and Dagupan city in Pangasinan in the late
1990s.
"There are now thousands of century-old mango trees
that died due to indiscriminate application of potassium
nitrate," Bernie O. Dizon, one of the country's top
pomologist, said.
This was assessment arrived at by one of the country's
top pomologist, Bernie O. Dizon,
as he and his team of fruit tree propagators ended a
year-long intensive survey of fruiting mango trees
throughout Luzon provinces.
He deplored the unsavory practice of many mango
contractors which go against the true fruiting nature of
fruits. He pointed out that the normal period from flushing
("pagpuputat") to flower induction is seven to nine months
for traditional planting.
He said "With the discovery of growth retardant, and
potassium nitrate, where the otherwise bi-annual fruiting
habit of mango trees, are induced to fruit yearly," the
productive life of the tree are drastically shortened."
"There are now thousands of century-old mango trees
that died due to indiscriminate application of potassium
nitrate. Carabao mango normally produces flushes or shoots
which after seven months are induced to flower with KNO3
(potassium nitrate) application "he added.
He offered the planting of multiple-rooted mango
seedlings as the "practical alternative" to what he said as
"a lucrative but otherwise dying industry."
In a short thesis, Dizon said that the mango seedling
propagators which are largely based in Batangas, appear to
have a monopoly of the lucrative seedling business.
This is because the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)
based in Batangas, started the propagation and culture of
mango and other fruit-bearing tree thus giving the
Batangueños the big edge in the marketing of the seedlings.
Also, citrus and other fruit tree seedlings continue to
be a virtual monopoly of the province.
Dizon pointed out that the dominant mango seedlings in
the country toady are "carabao mango" or "manggang kalabaw"
varieties, adding the carabao mango is known throughout the
world as the sweetest mango fruits as registered in the
Guinness Book of Records. "In the world market, Philippine
carabao mango fruits are more expensive than those produced
in Mexico, India and the U.S.
However, Dizon rues the fact that "Despite the
superiority of carabao over imported mangoes, we have not
taken advantage of the situation to expend and produce high
quality carabao mango."
In Guimaras province alone, where fruits are all
exported to Australia and the U.S., only 20 percent of the
total area suited for carabao mango is planted.
"Eight-percent of the total area remains to be utilized, but
lack of planting materials and the long gestation period (10
years on the average) are the limiting factors," Dizon
explained.
Dizon said that many people have ventured in planting
mangoes but end up losers, or only a minimal income is
derived, due to the following factors:
* Planting inferior
varieties such as Batangas or Cavite strain.
* Traditional planting with single rootstocks that
produce fruits every other year.
* High density planting or planting plants at such
close distance.
* Over-supply of fruits during the months of March,
April and May as in the case in Luzon.
Dizon suggested that the use of traditional single
rootstock seedlings should be replaced with plantings of
double- or even triple-rootstock
seedlings "to overcome biennial fruiting and enhance
physiological maturity."
He explained that "mango with multi-roots system grow
fast, is prolific and overcomes biennial fruiting and
counters the effects of potassium nitrate."
"Single rootstock tree after six years produces at
least 10 kilos of fruits or more. In Barangay Caballero in
Palayan City, the 1,000 Guimaras mango triple rootstock
trees average 20 kilos each five (5) years, and 120 kilos
after eight (8) years with proper care and efficient
irrigation and fertilization application," Dizon reported.
He added, "The 8 year old triple rootstock mango trees
have the equivalent height and crown of 15-20 years old
single traditional planting.
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