Ex-ante impact assessment of the adoption of IPM strategies for mango in Region XI of the southern Philippines.
Preciados L. S., Bulayog M. S. B., Notarte A.
Author Affiliation: Visayas State University, Visca, Baybay City, 6521 Leyte, Philippines.
ACIAR Proceedings Series : 226-233
Abstract : Mango growers in Region XI are faced with a decreasing farm income and production due to increasingly ineffective broad-spectrum pesticides for the control of a number of significant insect species, necessitating a combination of selective chemical, biological and cultural controls into an integrated pest management (IPM) program. For the mango growers, there are significant changes to production and management costs associated with adopting IPM and therefore the main issue for growers is whether it is cost-effective to adopt an IPM system. This paper addresses this issue of cost-effectiveness, outlines the key benefits from adopting an IPM system for mango production and assesses the potential impacts of the recommended IPM proposed by the mango researchers on the profitability of the fruit farms in the southern Philippines. It is estimated that 40% (7,255 ha) of the total mango production area in Region XI (18,137 ha) is affected with the problem of severe pest damage caused by cecid fly, thrips and scab, which contributes to a yield loss or rejects of 40% of the total potential yield per hectare. Preliminary research has indicated that effective management of pests and diseases in mango orchards could reduce yield losses or rejects by 20% and improve yields by about 33%. The suggested IPM practices would also reduce the cost of production by 16%, derived from the 75% reduction in chemical control cost, which translates to 156% increase in income. Based on the estimates and expectations of the level and rate of management practice adoption, the expected net present value of benefits from collaborative IPM research in Region XI for mango is approximately 1.25 billion pesos (A$30.55 million) with a benefit:cost ratio of about 51:1, representing an internal rate of return of approximately 59%. In addition to clearly quantifying the potential impact of the proposed IPM recommendation, this study also provides important lessons for research and extension policy, and for the formulation of future research opportunities.