Mango plan to boost exports

       The Agriculture Ministry is developing a five-year strategic plan to promote sustainable growth in mango exports.
       The plan, due to be implemented from 2010-14, would include plantation zoning, initially for the six eastern provinces,where premium-grade mangoes are grown. The provinces are Chachoengsao,Nakhon Nayok, Samut Prakan, Sa Kaeo,Prachin Buri and Chon Buri.
       Mango cultivation in the region has plunged despite strong market demand,especially in export markets, said the Office of Agricultural Economics.
       Land dedicated to growing mangoes has shrunk by 5% to about 160,500 rai this year - down from 169,300 rai last year - as farmers have switched to cash crops such as rubber and cassava, said Boonlap Sowanna, chief of the OAE's Zone 6 development and planning division.
       Mango output from the six provinces dropped by almost 30% to 84,200 tonnes this year, down from 117,000 last year.
       Meanwhile, foreign markets have shown strong demand -especially Japan, which imported about 1,500 tonnes of mangoes from Thailand last year, also sources the fruit from Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Germany.
       The agency has organised several meetings with growers, processors and exporters and will hold more talks before completing the strategy for implementation next year, said Mr Boonlap.
       Promoting mangoes as a commercial crop will include registering growers,zoning each variety of mango, improving logistics and upgrading plantations to meet Good Agricultural Practice.
       The plan aims at increasing the six provinces' annual output of mangoes to 126,000 tonnes by 2014. An average yield of 848 kilogrammes of mango per rai is targeted for 2014, up from 565 kg this year, to improve growers' income.
       The production of export-oriented varieties of mango - Nam Doc Mai, Kiew Savoey, Maha Chanok and Choke Anan,Rad and Pimsen Daeng - would be increased to meet rising demand from both international and local markets.