A total of 223 mango growers in Vintar, Ilocos Norte have received various agricultural inputs from the Department of Agriculture and the local government to boost their livelihood.

Ricardo Tolentino, president of Mango Growers Association in Ilocos Norte, said a lot of mango growers in the province have suffered low yield and incurred losses in the past few years due to high costs of farming supplies and erratic weather.

To help the farmers cope, the DA in Region 1, in coordination with the local government unit (LGU), distributed various agricultural inputs, including a flower inducer, amounting to PHP144,395 to the Vintar Mango Stakeholders Association.

“This is a big help to mango growers like us. Thank you for the continuing support from the government,” Tolentino said in an interview on Monday.

Vintar Vice Mayor Maribel Albano said the local government continues to provide agricultural inputs to the town’s mango growers to show support and enhance agricultural production.

“This program is part of the town’s implementation of the mission to protect the future for the farmers,” Albano, who was present during the distribution held on Oct. 3, said in Ilocano.

The Ilocos Region remains one of the country’s major exporters of quality mangoes, with markets in Hong Kong, Japan, and neighboring Southeast Asian nations.

Last year, the region produced 177,876.46 metric tons of mangoes, with Ilocos Norte as among its top contributors. (PNA)