Factors affecting yield performance of mango farms in Batangas, Philippines

This paper determined the factors affecting yield performance of mango in Batangas, discussed the problems/constraints encountered by mango farmers, and provided policy directions to enhance the productivity of mango in the province. From 1990 to 2008, mango production in Batangas registered a positive annual growth of 4.22%, which could be attributed to increase in area at 5.07% and number of bearing trees at 4.53% per annum. Yields per hectare and per tree declined yearly by 0.92% and 0.37% respectively in the same period. In 2007, mango production reached 26,732 mt covering 11,970 hectares and 711,780 bearing trees. Yields attained were 2.23 mt/ha and 0.04 mt/tree. The Cobb-Douglas production function was estimated based on the primary data collected from 51 mango farmers from Batangas City, Rosario and Bauan in 2008 using ordinary least squares method. The determinants of mango yield per hectare included in the model were: nitrogen fertilizer, labor, number of bearing trees, flower inducer cost, chemical cost, soil type, presence of intercrops, planting distance and age of bearing trees. Fertilizer, labor and costs of flower inducers and chemicals significantly and positively influenced the yield performance of mango farms in the province. The right amount, frequency and timing of fertilizer, flower inducer and chemical applications were very critical in achieving better yield. Older bearing trees also required more material inputs than younger bearing trees. The sum of the production elasticities 10.681 denoted the decreasing returns to scale stage of mango production. This implies that a 10% increase in all inputs would result in yield improvement of mango by 6.8%. Mango farmers interviewed reported that high costs of material inputs, high pest and disease infestation, and limited access to credit constrained them from improving the productivity in mango farming. Given these problems, this paper provides the following policy recommendations: (1) promotion of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), (2) strengthening farmer's/industry's association to facilitate transfer of production technologies, and (3) better access to credit.