MANGO GROWERS GET P3M FROM WB
ILOILO CITTY – The World Bank granted P3 million to the Iloilo Mango Growers Cooperative for the construction of a mango processing center in Leganes, Iloilo.
Mario Nillos, Iloilo provincial planning and development officer, said the processing center is equipped with a hot water treatment (WHT) facility.
“The lot was provided by the municipal government of Leganes while the provincial government helped develop the more or less 2,000-square meter site,” Nillos said.
The WHT, which will prolong the shelf life of mango fruits, is being fabricated in the University of the Philippines-Los Banos, Nillos added.
“We are planning to upgrade the processing center to process other fruits and vegetables aside from mangoes,” Nillos said.
Data from the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) said Iloilo, which ranked 7th in mango production in the country, produces an average of 30,000 metric tons of mangoes every year.
There are 2, 378 hectares of mango plantation in the province and 237,000 mango trees. The municipality of Anilao ranks first in mango production in Iloilo with 13,185 metric tons.
I am so happy to learn that Anilao is ranked as the number one producer of mangoes in Iloilo. All the time I thought it was Leon as every
time you buy mangoes they tell you it comes from Leon. I was born and raised in Anilao and proud to be from there.
By: Mar Anabo on October 25, 2009
at 5:27 am