Farmers’ field day at BPSU model mango farm

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – Pampanga mango planters held a field day on a Bataan university mango model farm highlighting best practices in raising and propagating the tropical fruit.

The Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU) and Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) have adopted a mango farm in Mabalacat to become a model for science and technology farming methods.    

The mango model farm project is in collaboration with Zoocobia, a leisure zoo in Clark Freeport, and mango farmers belonging to Samanaka cooperative.

“This is a challenge to all of you mango farmers to follow what techniques and methods we are showcasing here at the model mango farm”, said Dr. Hermogenes Paguia, BPSU Director of Research and Development Office and project leader to farmers during field day.    

Of the mango orchards in the area, only the BPSU mango model farm yielded fruit.

“Next time, we will make a model farm out of the mango fruits around your Samanaka office”, he told the approving farmers.

For his part, TTPD PCAARRD Director Dr. Melvin Carlos said, “There must be convergence and institutionalization, it is best for all of you to adopt the proven science and technology interventions in mango farming.The DOST will continue to help you”, he assured the mango farmers.

The mango model farm project here came following the conclusion of the 2015 research project of the Science and Technology Community-Based Farming (STCBF) on mango production in Bataan involving 15 mango orchard farmers.