THE island province of Guimaras was recently selected as a pilot area for the production of organic mangoes, the only island project funded by the Philippine Rural Infrastructure Project.

Guimaras Provincial Agriculturist Ronnie Morante said Guimaras ranks number 7 in mango production in the country.

He said they are now developing the protocol for organic mango production, which they hope will start in 2016.

The focus on organic agriculture started in 2010 but Guimaras needs irrigation, farm to market roads and market outlets.

The local farmers will have to go to seed banking project supplemented by their own grown seeds. (LCP)