The National Mango Research Development Center will conduct a mango survey in the Visayas starting next month, its chief Hernani Golez said.

The survey seeks to determine the quality of mango produce in the region - whether these are free of mango pulp and seed weevil, a requirement for Philippine mangoes to penetrate the United States market.

Golez urged all Visayan mango growers to cooperate in the survey, which will cover five percent of the entire number of mango fruit bearing trees to be identified.

Twelve fruits will be extracted and opened from each of the samples to check the presence of mango pulp and seed weevil. Golez said mangoes coming from Visayas, particularly Western Visayas, would surely create a great impact if these are all qualified to enter the US market.

"Once we declare the area free from mango pulp and seed weevil the whole of Western Visayas would be capable of exporting mangoes to the US," he said. The survey, which will run until September, is part of the nationwide study undertaken by the NMRDC to determine the export competitiveness of country's super mangoes.*PNA

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