The provincial government of Zambales has embarked on a four-year pioneering program to promote, expand and sustain the production of Zambales’s best-known product, the carabao or “Dinamulag” mango variety which was regarded as the sweetest in the world.
Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said the province has set aside close to P50 million for the Zambales Mango Green Valley Project aimed at expanding the mango production areas, increasing yield per hectare, and strengthening the mango value chain to further develop and sustain the mango industry.
“This is the first comprehensive effort to modernize and revitalize what has always been Zambales’s pride, the Dinamulag mango,” Ebdane said. “The project will include integrated crop management, technological and environmental sustainability inputs, and marketing support to help local mango growers and traders become more competitive.”
Initially, some P6.46 million has been granted to the Samahang Magmamangga ng Zambales (SMZ) to establish modern mango production areas at the 31.6-hectare Batungbacal Farm in Palauig town and the government-owned Sitio Buen farm in Botolan. A third site, the 24-hectare Alma’s Farm in Iba, will be part of the project, but will be funded privately.
“These will serve as pilot farms to showcase modern mango production methods for wider promotion and adoption by local mango growers,” said Ebdane.
The governor added that after the establishment of modern production areas, which constitutes Phase 1 of the Mango Valley Project, the Zambales provincial government, led by the Provincial Agricultural Office, will undertake starting next year the rehabilitation and rejuvenation of existing mango trees in the province under Phase 2, and also establish carabao mango nurseries under Phase 3.
