THE FRUIT INDUSTRY in the Philippines contributes to the economy of the country in a large way, owing to its rich assortment of tropical fruits wherein more than 20 different species are cultivated in the different regions.
The eight leading species which are grown in the country are banana (Musa sp.) pineapple (Ananas comosus), mango (Mangifera indica), papaya (Carica papaya), calamansi (Microfortunella microcarpa), durian (Durio zibethinus), jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), and lanzones (Lansium domesticum) – based on the volume of production.
The production of banana went up by 2.1 percent from 2.10 million metric tons in 2017 to 2.14 metric tons this year, based on a data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) for the period January-March 2018.
More than one third or 36.7 percent of the total banana production came from Davao Region followed by Northern Mindanao with 24.4 percent, and SOCCSKSARGEN with 13 percent.
Also during the period January to March 2018, the production of mango dropped by 9.4 percent, from 107.83 thousand metric tons in 2017 to 97.70 thousand metric tons this year.
The decrease could be attributed to the incidence of cecid fly, capsid bug and other fruit flies and late flowering of trees in Ilocos Region (Pangasinan) and Central Luzon (Nueva Ecija and Zambales).
Ilocos Region topped the mango-producing regions, contributing 55.6 percent to the national total production. Central Luzon ranked second with 18.2 percent share and Western Visayas, 6.2 percent.
Production methods may range from backyard to systematic operation which caters to the export market.
It can be noted that backyard farms are generally small in size with minimal care resulting in low yield.
To support and boost the fruit industry in the country, at least two projects are now being funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
Denne historien er fra August 2018-utgaven av Agriculture.
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Denne historien er fra August 2018-utgaven av Agriculture.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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