T&T to develop mango industry

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Guardian - Although there were challenges in developing the mango industry and by extension food production, T&T has the potential to develop it into a viable industry said Dr Mario Fortune, chief technical officer, Ministry of Food Production. “The mango industry, like other food markets in T&T, suffers from two main problems. There is an inconsistent supply and inconsistent quality. Why do we rely so heavily on imported food? One issue is that you can get imported fruits in any quantity you need all year round and you are assured of a certain quality. We recognised that some action must be taken to bring our local fruit industry, including mango, to a similar level,” he said. Fortune was speaking at the opening of the T&T Mango Festival at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Field Station, Mount Hope. He read a speech on behalf of Jairam Seemungal, Minister in the Ministry of State in the Ministry of Food Production, who was unable to attend. To increase fruit production, Fortune said, the Ministry of Food Production will ensure that 202 hectares of mango are cultivated by 2015.