Trade department set to train Davao’s mango farmers

DEVELOPING the mango industry in Southern Mindanao is one of the main thrusts of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao Region for the year.

On Thursday, 120 stakeholders of the mango industry will converge in Digos City to come up with ways to revitalize the commodity that has been helping the local economy afloat.

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Dubbed as the "Technology and Organizational Development Training" for the mango farmers and growers is an initiative of the Davao Region Mango Industry Cluster (DRMIC).

In an interview with Sun.Star Davao, DRMIC chair Antonio Y. Teh said the training will provide the participants a comprehensive guidance on how to improve their productivity.

"This is really an opportunity for our farmers especially that they are not paying anything for the training," Teh said.

The mango industry cluster said they are encouraging the local government units (LGUs) to actively participate in facilitating the enhancement-capacity building of mango growers through the conduct of trainings. These trainings will not only directly help the mango growers but will also strengthen the aim of the sector to sustain its presence in the Davao Region Industry Cluster Teams (which includes the banana, coconut, seaweed, wood, mining, tourism, and information and communications technology, aside from the mango cluster).

"The active participation of our LGUs in extending facilitation of the enhancement-capacity building through formal and informal training of our mango growers will surely strengthen the sustainability of the organizations in the industry cluster," Teh said.

Meanwhile, DTI-Davao del Sur Provincial Director Engr. Edwin O. Banquerigo said the local mango industry has to be boosted further for it to continuously contribute to the economy's achievements.

Interested participants may contact Joy dela Victoria at mobile phone numbers 09082724158, 09228571204, and 09162337810. (CPM)