BALANGA CITY, Bataan—The Bataan Peninsula State University and the Commission on Higher Education are implementing a sustainable mango production project in Central Luzon.
Dr. Hermogenes Paguia, BPSU Director for Research and Research Team Leader, said 24 science and technology community-based mango model farms in Bataan — two in each of its 12 towns — and 10 in the Zambales town of Palauig are adopted for the project.
He added 32 farmer-cooperators (22 from Bataan and 10 from Zambales) are participating.
“The project explores the potentials of cooperators’ existing mango trees as a viable economic activity by following science and technology interventions and proper management,” Paguia said.
“Farmer-cooperators are undergoing series of trainings and seminars on technology transfer and technical management to further develop their capability,” he added.
The project is funded under CHED DARE TO Research Grant, and has two years duration from 2017 to 2018.
It is being implemented in cooperation with Ramon Magsaysay Technological University, Bataan provincial and local government units, and the local government unit of Palauig, Zambales.
From 2013 to 2015, BPSU and Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development implemented Science and Technology Community-Based Farming on mango production in Bataan involving 15 farmer-cooperators from Balanga and Abucay towns.
“The difference with the CHED DARE TO project aside that it covers Central Luzon area, there is research and product development component,” the director pointed out. Butch Gunio