Guimaras mango growers’ coop eyeing partnership with financial institutions

JORDAN, Guimaras (PNA) – The Guimaras Mango Growers and Producers Development Cooperative (GMGPDC) is planning to partner with financing institutions to help small farmers in the island.

"Mangoes are high-risk crops. It is very sensitive. Only 35 percent of mango trees in the island are productive and are fruit-bearing," said Rosario Griesser, GMGPDC president on Friday.

Griesser, who owns an eight-hectare mango orchard here, said she understands the demand for Guimaras mangoes.

The island, however, can only supply so much as it takes a lot of capital to induce flowering of mango trees.

"Financing remains a problem. That's why the cooperative is planning to partner with banks to provide financing support to farmers or Guimarasnons who own one to three mango trees," she said.

A mango tree can bear as much as one ton of fruits.

Griesser said the cooperative, with the support of the provincial government, is also stepping up promotion of Guimaras mangoes and expects that the demand for the product will further increase in the coming years.

To ensure small mango growers recover their capital and earn, the cooperative plans to buy fresh mangoes from small farmers at reasonable price, Griesser said.

She noted that some bulk buyers buy mangoes from the small farmers at cheaper price.

"We will buy fresh mangoes from the farmers at the right price, and supply these mangoes to hotels and restaurants or institutional buyers. That way, the small farmers can recover the production cost and they will be more encouraged to continue growing mangoes," she said.

She added: "The coop can also earn, and our members can get dividends at the end of the year."

Guimaras mangoes are reputedly the sweetest variety in the country.