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The Philippines is known for its excellent fruit products. The carabao mango, better known as Manila Super Mango, makes the country competitive in the world market. The major importers of mango are Japan, Singapore, and Hongkong.

The Manila Super Mango is one of the world’s best varieties. Other popular varieties are Pico and Katchamita. Our mango industry supports some 2.5 million farmers and farm family members.

Tagged as “sure export winner”, there is a projected export increase at 13% annually. It is exported in its fresh or processed form. Mango is known for its versatility as all stages of fruit development is suitable for processing.

“Carabao” (Kalabaw) variety size: medium to large, about 240 g, shape oblong, skin smooth, yellow and thin, flesh yellow, very tender and melting; flavor very delicate, aromatic and spicy, fiber medium coarse but short and confined almost entirely to the edge of the seed. Eating quality excellent.

“Pico” variety size: medium to large, about 230 grams, shape oblong more distinctly flattened than the “carabao”, skin smooth light orange yellow thick and tough; flesh rich orange yellow, tender, richer and sweeter than the “carabao” but not melting and lacks the spicy delicate aroma that  distinguishes the “carabao” mango, fiber fine and short, confined almost entirely to the edge of the seed. Eating quality good.

Distribution

Mango is believed to have originated from the Indo Pakistani and the Malay Peninsula or Indo-China. It is grown extensively in Egypt, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, South Africa, Australia, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Israel, Mexico, Cuba and the West Indies. Central and Southern Luzon, Central and Western Visayas, and the Ilocos provinces are the main mango production areas in the Philippines.

Uses

• Wood : furnitures, doors, Mindoro casings, floors, plywood, turnery and boxes.
• Leaves : eaten as vegetable and fodder for animals; also used to treat chicken pox.
• Fruit : fruits are eaten fresh, dried, frozen, or canned and are made into pickles, juice, puree, nectars, scoops, jam, vinegar, wine, brandy, and ice cream flavoring. Tannins and astringents can be extracted from the green fruits.
• The fibers of the seedhusk make soft, fine pliable brushes. The kernel can be fed to pigs or, after soaking in water to remove astringents, ground into flour and used like wheat flour.
• Peelings of the fruit contains high quality pectin.
• As dye : They yield a yellow textile dye (a xanthene derivative). In India, the yellow coloring in the leaves, bark and fruit is a dye called “peori dye”.

Ideal Mango Growing Conditions

• Elevation is lower than 400 m above sea level. Fruit maturity is delayed at higher elevations.
• Rainfall
  • Minimum of 2-3 months dry period (less than 50 mm rainfall per month) at fruiting until harvest.
  • Less than 200 mm rainfall and/or 15 rainy days per month at flower induction.
• Relative Humidity is lower than 80% mean RH at flowering until harvest.
• Soil Moisture
  • Moist (<1> 10 atm.) at fruit maturation until harvest (110-130 days after flower induction).
  • Near source of water for irrigation during dry months.
• Soil pH
  • pH range of 5.5-7.0.
  • Apply lime in soils with lower pH and use ammonium sulfate as N source at pH>7.
• Soil depth, texture and fertility
  • Deep (over 50 cm) and well-drained clay loam or lighter soil texture.
  • Soil analysis: Organic Matter (>2%); P(>15 ppm); K (>100 ppm); Ca (>2000 ppm); Mg (>200 ppm).
• Full sunlight, long sunny days (high solar radiation) at flowering and fruiting.
• Topography is flat to rolling preferably below 20º slope.
• Mean temperature range of 24ºC to 29ºC.
• Preferably free from typhoon or seldom between October to January; protected from dry and hot Easter lies between January to March.

Site requirements

Distinct wet and dry season, at least 5 months dry period; elevations below 600 m (although mangoes are known to thrive in the Cavite highlands); welldrained, deep loamy soil and pH range of 6 to 8; latitudinal range is from 30 degrees north to 30 degrees south latitude.

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