Local Government Initiatives and Prospects for Mango Farming Community Capital Enhancement in Guimaras Province, Philippines

Abstract

Agricultural communities often confront issues such as lack of support from various political actors. The local government units LGUs are responsible for initiating measures for improving community capitals towards fostering growth and development to mango farming communities. This descriptive qualitative study provides an understanding of the initiatives of the LGU in enhancing the community capitals in the Guimaras, Philippines mango farming community. The community capitals framework (CCF) served as a lens and guide. Semi-structured interview guides and participant observation are instrumental in data gathering from five key informants. Findings revealed that LGU provided various programs and initiatives to help enhance the community capitals of the mango sector; thus, LGU as a political actor and development enabler has significant roles in fostering community development. Recommendations in this study are essential to the LGU further to enhance the community capitals of the mango farming sector. In gist, there is a need to focus more on building social networks within the community, establish means for transporting the mango produce, and strengthen community education on agriculture among the youth for them to involve in the mango industry’s development.

Is It Worth Enduring? Labor in Philippine Mango Fruit Farming

“…In 1993, the Manggahan (local term for mango season) festival first inaugurated as a province-wide agri-tourism celebration. Later, mango production attracted national and foreign investors and tourism feeding the agro-eco-tourism activities, such as farm resort tours and activities led by cooperatives (Sacramento & Geges, 2020). With the aspiration to eventually establish a great industry, the local government in 1990s opened ventures with private companies towards foreign direct investments in handling big productions.…”

“…In 2017, the province of Guimaras produced 11,239 metric tons of mango fruits (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2018), contributing with a 1.97% share of the total 571,437 metric tons of mango production in the country (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2019). The produced “export quality” mangoes came from 212,845 bearing mango trees in the province, recorded in 2006 and 2007 with 12,110.21 metric tons and 12,467.59 metric tons, respectively (Province of Guimaras, 2022; Sacramento, 2020; Sacramento & Cuizon, 2020).…”

“…Besides, numerous works in the province have noted the lack of quality planting materials, low and erratic yield, insufficient support for research activities, inadequate post-harvest facilities, limited government support for inputs needed in production, and inadequate technologies constrain- ing the mango production (Golez, 1995b, 1995a; Sacramento, 2020; Sacramento & Cuizon, 2020). The effects even extend to the profoundly affected laborers since they direct most of their work towards meeting the target produce, but earn less because of the circumstances posed by the mango economy’s present realities that further undermine their labor conditions.…”