Tropical Fruits as an Opportunity for Sustainable Development in Rural Areas: The Case of Mango in Small-Sized Sicilian Farms

Abstract

Over the last decades, in many rural areas in Southern Europe, farmers have abandoned agricultural activity, especially on small-sized farms, leading to an exodus from rural areas towards urbanized ones. In this context, in the early 1980s, some Sicilian farmers introduced mango on their small-sized farms, as certain areas of Sicily are well suited to tropical and subtropical crops, but also to meet increasing consumer interest for these fruits, as they are perceived as functional foods. This paper aimed to evaluate the economic sustainability of mango and to determine whether its introduction could be considered as an alternative to traditional crops. In particular, an economic-financial analysis of mango orchards on small-sized Sicilian farms was performed by adopting a discounted cash flow approach. In order to provide as comprehensive information as possible, mango was compared with two traditional crops that have always played an important socioeconomic role in Southern Italy: wine grape and orange. Results showed a clear economic convenience for mango orchards, denoting an annual gross margin of 14,617.03 €/ha, on average 20 times higher than orange orchards and just less than 40 times higher in respect to vineyards. The higher profitability of mango was also confirmed without considering public grants for the planting phase, and by varying current sales prices and costs. However, it should be considered that the cultivation of mango could represent an opportunity for sustainable development only for certain Sicilian areas, as it is closely related to favorable pedo-climatic conditions.

Deficit irrigation strategies for subtropical mango farming. A review

“…The mango cultivars most used in the European Mediterranean zone are cultivars from Florida such as Osteen, Keitt, Tommy Atkins, Irwin, and Sensation (Durán et al 2003Testa et al 2018;Gentile et al 2019).…”

Chemical–Physical, Sensory Analyses and Consumers’ Quality Perception of Local vs. Imported Loquat Fruits: A Sustainable Development Perspective

“…From a consumer's perspective, the literature on consumers' choices highlights that the demand for local and typical productions is affected by the need for healthy eating, protecting the environment, and boosting the local economy [16][17][18][19] by avoiding the phenomena of rural exodus still present in many rural areas [20]. In many cases, local fruit productions are included in the list of European products that have obtained Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status and are characterized by excellent qualitative traits such as a persistent aroma and excellent flavor, a developed nutraceutical value that is highly appreciated by consumers [21,22].…”

The Anti-Cancer Effect of Mangifera indica L. Peel Extract is Associated to γH2AX-mediated Apoptosis in Colon Cancer Cells

“…In this scenario, particularly relevant seems to be mango ( Mangifera indica L.), a crop belonging to the Anacardiaceae family that, according to historical records, has been cultivated in India and Southeast Asia for more than 4000 years [5]. Nowadays, mango orchards are spread around the world, in both tropical and subtropical environments, finding suitable areas for cultivation also in the Mediterranean area, where their spread first started in Spain, then, together with other tropical plants, also colonized Sicily, at least 20 years ago [6,7,8]. This fruit has received increasing interest from consumers who perceived its importance as a functional food rich in phytochemicals able to provide a healthy contribution to their diet.…”