Mango to take the spotlight in the first-ever virtual science ‘FIESTA’

Mango takes the spotlight in the first-ever virtual Farms and Industry Encounters through Science and Technology Agenda (FIESTA) from Dec 3, 9-10 & Dec 16-17, 2021.

The virtual Mango FIESTA is being led by Southern Mindanao Agriculture Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (SMAARRDEC) in collaboration with the Visayas Consortium for Agriculture Aquatic and Natural Resources Program (ViCARP) and the SOCCSKSARGEN Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (SOXAARRDEC).

The FIESTA will gather virtually about 100 mango farmers across regions particularly those from Region 8, 11, and 12.

FIESTA is an event-based technology promotion and transfer modality initiated by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) to enhance the transfer of technology from research to their intended beneficiaries.

SMAARRDEC, ViCARP, and SOXAARRDEC are three of the 15 regional Consortia of DOST-PCAARRD.

Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, Executive Director of DOST-PCAARRD, said that FIESTA is a platform for sharing science and technology research breakthroughs to stakeholders, linking farmers to the market. Conduct of FIESTA started in 2014 which is DOST-PCAARRD’s initiative in disseminating and commercializing matured technologies generated by regional/local experts.

Mango is considered a high value commercial crop which provides livelihood to about 2.5M farmers nationwide. DOST-PCAARRD also invested about 15M for the development of these ready-for-commercialization technologies implemented in the 3 regions.

The development of technologies on Molecular Markers for Mango Cultivar Identification and Genetic Characterization of University of Southern Philippines (USM), the Dipstick Kit to Detect True-To-Type Philippines Carabao Mango of Visayas State College (VSU) and the Pre-and Postharvest Technologies of the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP), has given the mango industry hope for a better and enhanced productivity.

These projects were funded with the ultimate desire to elevate livelihood of the small-scale mango farmers using the low-cost technologies generated.

With the conduct of this virtual cluster Mango FIESTA, adoption and commercialization of these technologies will potentially increase mango production in the country.