SPFTC opens mango processing facility in the Philippines

The Southern Partners and Fair Trade Corporation (SPFTC) has established a fruit processing plant in Naga City, Cebu to cope with various problems small farmers are facing on March 4, 2011.

The project, amounting to $93,910, is funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).

With the grant assistance, the SPFTC has purchased a new fruit dehydrator and two burner stoves to improve productivity.

A hauling truck has also been provided under the grant in order to pick up harvested fruit and deliver their products.

To improve the hygiene and sanitary conditions of the plant, new stainless steel basins and cooking vats were purchased, and part of the plant have also been renovated, such as roof insulation setting, drainage setting, and floor tiling.

Mango production is traditionally famous in Cebu Province.

Mango export is a major contributor to the country's foreign exchange reserves, with about 20 foreign countries importing both fresh and processed mango from the Philippines.

The annual revenue of the country from the mango industry amounts to approximately $14 million.

However, small mango farmers, who are directly involved in mango production, have not fully benefited from the scale of the industry.

This project is expected to improve the efficiency and productivity of the SPFTC-owned plant and, therefore, contribute to income increase of about 450 small farmers.

The opening ceremony of the facility was attended by Minister for Economic Affairs of the Embassy of Japan Akio Isomata.