THERE is a trade opportunity for Philippines mangoes to Australia, said an executive of an Australian Embassy in the Philippines.

During the Kapehan sa Dabaw press conference at SM City Davao held yesterday, May 21, Deputy Head for Mission of the Australian Embassy in the Philippines Mat Kimberley said their country only produces mangoes for six months and for the remaining six months they export mangoes from other countries. Because of this, Kimberley said the trade opportunity for the Philippines is very open.

“An interesting prospect [for export to Australia] is the mango. The research that is being run in Samal Island is looking at how you can plant more trees and using agricultural techniques to still grow the same amount, and if not more, of the fruit per tree,” he said.

The research he mentioned was the one being done by the Australian government in Samal that helps educate farmers on mango growing.

He added the farmers are taught on how to take their produce to the right market. They are also taught on how to determine which ones sell best in the market.

“Understanding the market is very important to the farmers so they know what to plant and to grow,” he said.

Currently, he said there are smaller volumes of mangoes being exported to Australia by the Philippines but he encourages mango players in the country to push for the Australian market because there is an opportunity.

In a data by the Philippine Statistics Authority as of 2016, the production of mangoes in Davao Region reached 52,764.52 metric tons (MT) aside from the 47,212.30 MT for Mango Carabao.