Mango growers in North Cotabato recently shipped one metric ton of carabao mangoes to the United Arab Emirates, the Agriculture Department said Monday.
Agriculture regional executive director Amalia Jayag-Datukan said the trial shipment of carabao mangoes reached Dubai on Nov. 29 under the supervision of the region’s agribusiness and marketing assistance division.
The mangoes were owned by Rickson Olimpus of Tulunan town in North Cotabato and other members of Region 12 Mango Industry Development Council.
Datukan said the region’s participation in a trade fair in Dubai opened an opportunity to mango growers.
“Bringing local farmer groups to trade fairs encourage them to become agri-entrepreneurs,” Datukan said.
The Middle East Natural and Organic Products Expo, which was held in Dubai in the first week of November, showcases a wide range of organic products like food, beverage, beauty products and others.
Olimpus said she was confident the region’s mango council would sustain what DA 12 started for them and that the foreign buyers would like their mangoes.