The provincial government of Zambales is advancing mango production through the integration of modern farming technologies and capability-building initiatives. The Zambales Mango Green Valley Project, launched last year, is a flagship program designed to enhance production, promote modern farming technologies, and encourage good agricultural practices for sustained profitability.
The project, currently in its second phase, focuses on the rehabilitation of 20,800 mango trees through enhanced farm management, fertilization, and irrigation. With a budget allocation of US$ 705,000, the initiative targets an increase in the province's mango yield from 2.3 tons per hectare to the national average of 12 tons per hectare. "We're now aiming for 12 tons, too. This is the more important and more difficult part of sustaining the mango industry because we have to exponentially increase quantity without sacrificing quality to make local mangoes more competitive," stated Domingo Mariano, head of the Zambales Mango Industry Council Technical Working Group.
The project is a collaborative effort involving the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO), President Ramon Magsaysay State University (PRMSU), and the Samahan ng Magmamangga ng Zambales (SMZ). As part of this collaboration, US$113,000 was allocated to SMZ for pre-spray clearing, flower induction, chemical application, fruit bagging, irrigation, fertilization, security, and harvesting at pilot farms.
Looking ahead to 2026, Phase 3 will focus on propagating the Sweet Elena mango variety. Plans include establishing a mango training center and post-harvest processing facility through a usufruct agreement with the Region 3 Mango Stakeholders Association, Inc., under the Department of Agriculture's High-Value Crops Development Program. The provincial government is also exploring branding, product exportation, and greenhouse cultivation to broaden market opportunities.
Source: PIA