Initiated by the John Dillon Fellowship Mango Project and funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research, 25 members of the Samal Island Mango Marketing Cooperative (SIMMCO) graduated from the Season-Long Training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in Mango Production yesterday, July 15, 2022, at the City Agriculture’s Miniwarehouse and Satellite Office.

Aiming to identify the precise maturity days of mango, scrutinizing the use of Taiwan paper bags as fruit protection, and assessing the effect of Hot Water Treatment, the 4-month training commenced on March 24, 2022, and ended this week, completing one (1) cycle of mango production.

Mr. Vlademir A. Shuck, the project leader, explained that this training helps mango growers in Samal Island come up with an internationally and locally competitive mango product. "Gusto nato nga mapalambo ang produksyon ug kalidad sa mangga diri sa Samal aron kini mahimong competitive", he said. He also stated that the hot water treatment process can disinfect the fruits and lengthen the postharvest decay up to fifteen (15) days.

CAGRO-OIC, Mr. Jimuel Rebigan, extended his gratitude to the initiators and facilitators of the training for including Samal Island in their research, which is truly beneficial to the growers. He, too, encouraged the graduates to practice what they had learned and assured them of the assistance and help of the local government.

The activity was facilitated by the University of the Philippines-Mindanao in partnership with the University of the Philippines-Los Baños, Visayas State University, Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-PCAARRD, and the Provincial Agriculture's Office.(CIO-IGACOS//NovyCreta/Photos:ChristianJuntong)