GUIMARAS – Social media have become the saving platform of mango growers and sellers in this island-province reeling from the adverse economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic these past two years.
According to Provincial Assistant Agriculturist Alvin Nava, strict health protocols severely limited the tourists and retailers coming in and this affected the local mango industry.
Pre-pandemic especially during the summer season, according to Nava, mango lovers came in droves, particularly tourists.
Under pandemic restrictions, the social media became the mango growers’ sellers’ alternative marketing outlet.
“Nakabulig gid sa pag-promote sang pahu ang social media. Kalabanan nag-resort sa online booking,” said Nava.
He also noted the availability of logistics delivery services in the province.
“No need na magkadto sa Guimaras (ang buyers), ang pahu na lang ginapagwa,” he added.
Data from the Guimaras Provincial Agriculture Office showed 1,900 mango growers in the province.
As of 2021, there were 274,822 estimated mango trees in Guimaras of which 193,435 were fruit-bearing.
So far, Nava said, the mango business in the province is gradually taking off as the pandemic alert level in the province and the entire Western Visayas has been lowered.
He said that as far as mango production is concerned, there are enough during this period in time with the province’s celebration of the Manggahan Festival 2022.
Data shows that from 12,542.22 metric tons in 2020, Guimaras’ mango production increased to 16,238.83 metric tons in 2021.
Nava lso noted that in December 2021, 80 to 90 percent of the induced mango trees (mango flowering trees) were damaged by Typhoon “Odette”.
In January, however, because of the favorable weather condition, mango flowering was successful and the good production supply because of this are now being felt.
The pricing per kilo of the Guimaras mango ranges from P80 to P120./PN