Organic Mangoes in the Philippines

Summary

To test the feasibility of growing mangos organically in the Philippines, allowing the local farmers to produce a valuable product that competes with larger commercial and international markets.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

Mangos are the third largest export crop in the Philippines behind bananas and pineapples. Yet unlike those other two crops, which are farmed on huge plantations by multinationals, about half of all mangos produced in the Philippines for export are produced by poor backyard farmers. The use of organic technologies can help the farmers to produce export-profitable organic mangos, putting money in their pockets and reducing risks to their health posed by use of common chemical agents.

How will this project solve this problem?

We will conduct a study in which the fruit trees, climate, soil, weather patterns, and organisms are studied in order to learn whether organic farming techniques are feasible in the region.

Potential Long Term Impact

The project has the potential to increase the household assets of the farmers, reduce their hospital visits, and positively effect the environment by eliminating the use of chemical agents.

Project Message

It will be great to be able to work on such a well-rounded project. We can improve the health and financial wellbeing of a specific group of backyard farmers in a rural region of the Philippines.
- Luke Crowley, Project Coordinator

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).