The Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center 1 conducted Training of Trainers on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for Mango Production on April 25-29, 2022 at ATI-RTC I Satellite Training Center, Brgy. Tabug, Batac City, Ilocos Norte.

A total of 19 Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWS), specifically the High Value Crops (HVC) Coordinators from various municipalities in region 1 attended the training and learned the fundamentals of GAP for mango production and how these principles are implemented on the farm to ensure GAP compliance.

Highlights of the five-day training include lecture discussions on the different management practices anchored with the Philippine National Standard Code for GAP Mango and GAP Certification Guidelines. The concept of Climate Change, as well as its impacts, challenges, mitigation and adaptation measures were also explained to the participants.

In addition, the participants performed mock inspection activities and conducted hazard and risk evaluation at Tito Bert Agricultural Learning and Assessment Center Inc. in Sto. Domingo and the New Ilocos Sur Provincial Jail Organic Farming Advocates Inc. in Bantay, both in Ilocos Sur. GAP Checklists were given to the participants as their guide as inspectors for them to familiarize with the hazards brought on by mango production.

Mango is the national fruit of the Philippines, and it is grown on over 7 million mango trees by approximately 2.5 million smallholder farmers. Mangoes are a high value crop that provides a significant boost to the rural and national economies in comparison to other crops grown in the Philippines such as rice, corn, coconut, and sugarcane. The volume of mangoes produced in the country peaked in 2015.

The Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute continues to support AEWs and mango growers in their efforts to expand the market for Philippine mangoes over the long term through the High Value Crops Development Program.