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Friday, August 04, 2006
Davao mango trees to sport umbrellas?
IN ANTICIPATION of the rainy season, mango producers are entertaining the possibility of shielding the trees with umbrellas.
Mango producer Ednar Carlos G. Dayanghirang, president of Davao Region Mango Contractors Association (Daremca), said the rain is the number one problem of mango growing especially when the tree is being induced for flowering.
Although at this time the cost of the structure cannot yet be determined, he said they would rather find means to protect the trees so their investment will not be put to waste.
"We will use bamboo poles as the base and use plastic (transparent) to cover the crown and will be designed in such as way that it could be folded," he said.
"What is critical is on the 24th day after flower induction towards day 35," added Dayanghirang.
In fact, commercial producers like Dole Philippines already experimented with putting up a cage for the fruit tree just to ensure that the flowers are in place until it turns to fruit even during rainy days.
Dayanghirang said this will entail additional cost but they are assured of increase in yield.
The year 2005, he said, was a bad year and producers incurred several losses.
For the first six months this year losses were estimated at about 80 percent and there was not enough mango in the market here.
Usually he said during summer price of mango is at P10 to P15 per kilo but last summer the price was between P30 to P35.
Mango producer Emmanuel Montanez said that two years ago his yield was about 60 tons but last year it was down to 15 tons.
But Dayanghirang said that mango harvests are slowly peaking up this time and hopefully it will be sustained towards December.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (August 4, 2006 issue)
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