The Editor, Sir:"There is a lucrative export market for mangoes in Europe," according to the chief executive officer of Seprod Limited, Byron Thompson, as the company considers exporting mangoes now grown at its recently acquired 2,300-acre Belvedere farm in St. Thomas.
According to data provided by the Mango Association of the United Kingdom, that country consumes more than £20 million worth of mangoes annually. This association has as its main mission to expand the mango market in Britain; they even have an ambassador for mangoes.
Recently, in an upscale community, I was almost brought to tears, having witnessed the cutting down of a Hayden mango tree (botanical name Mangifera indica), estimated to be approximately 35 years old, while at its peak of production. Cutting down a mango tree is both an economic and environmental blunder. Just think about clean air, provision of soil cover preventing erosion, part of the natural habitat for birds and, most of all, the production of a fruit that could be called the king and queen of fruits.
20 million tons per year
It is estimated that approximately 20 million tons are produced each year in the tropics and subtropics, with the leading producers and exporters being India, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, Peru and Haiti. India is credited with being the
country of origin for most of the more than 400 varieties known worldwide being cultivated there since 2000 BC.
Mangoes got to Jamaica and the West Indies some time during the 17th century, and there are more than 40 different types. As a business opportunity, the growing of mangoes as another orchard crop for export in different forms is a missed opportunity which should be revisited with some urgency, with the setting up of a mango board similar to the coffee or cocoa board. Seprod's idea is good news for Jamaica and St. Thomas and the environment.
Mango research needed
Some local scientists should begin research into mango - the type done by Lockhart and West into ganja (Cannabis sativa) from which pharmaceuticals for glaucoma and asthma are being marketed. Mango has the potential to produce nutriceuticals, cosmeceuticals and pharmaceuticals. Mangoes are rich in antioxidants, vitamins A, B, C and also have potassium, calcium and iron. It is also high in fibre, low in calories and sodium. Mango juice as a restorative tonic, powdered mango seeds for diarrhoea, ripe mango as a laxative, for weight loss, high blood pressure, asthma; unripe mango to clear kidney stones or mango tree gum to dress cracked feet or treat scabies and syphilis are some of the many claims made on mango.
The cutting down of mango trees should be prohibited, more orchards established and scientific research put into developing more by-products of mango, the king and queen of fruits in Jamaica and the world. Maybe we could consider having an ambassador for mangoes.
I am, etc.,
MICHAEL SPENCE
micspen2@hotmail.com
P.O. Box 630
Liguanea, Kingston 6
Via Go-Jamaica
