As a potential area to grow mangoes, the Cagayan Valley region hosted the 21st National Mango Congress that started on March 19, 2019, at the Isabela State University Ecahgue Campus Amphitheatre, Echague, Isabela.

Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office No. 02 (DA RFO 02) Executive Director Narciso A. Edillo, representing Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Pinol, graced the second day of the event who later emphasized that farmers’ produce can be brought to the Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (APTC) in Roxas, Isabela.

This is in support of the farmers’ plight when asked about where to market their volumes of harvest.

“To achieve progress in the agriculture sector the DA RFO 02 has given strong emphasis on the development of high-value commercial crops, and mango production is one of them. In retrospect, the DA is contributory to at least 8,000 mt contributions to Mega Manila high-value crops requirement,” Edillo said speaking to attendees from all regions of the country.

Virginia I. de la Fuente, President, Phil. Mango Industry Foundation, Inc. (PMIFI), said to region 2’s mango growers that a processing facility will soon rise in Echague town in Isabela.

Due to recent typhoons that struck the region, there were production areas that were greatly affected which recorded a decrease of 46,396.4 mt a sudden drop of mango production in 2016.

“Sa kabila nito, nananatili ang mataas na potensyal ng mango production sa rehiyon dos dahil sa malawak na lupang pwedeng pagtamnan at karampatang mga teknolohiyang ipinamamahagi ng Kagawaran,” Edillo added.

The three days Congress with a theme “Sustainable Mango Production in the Changing Climate” has set a mission to reveal a regional agriculture sector brimming with potential possibilities, being the only networking platform that is focused on investment in agribusiness, particularly on Mango production and processing.