Page 22 - Tropic Magazine Issue 21

TROPIC • AGRICULTURE

Higher density robotics, improved input efficiencies
and greater cyclone resilience.”
MORE MANGOES The current commercial mango
varieties are being tested, including
Australian mango growers are KP and R2E2, along with two new
trialling new planting systems mango varieties known only by codes
to increase productivity and NMBP1243 and NMBP4069. The trials
are part of a three-year project called
profitability.
Transforming Mango Futures, which
Words: Renee Cluff aims to increase the adoption of next-
generation intensive mango systems.
Mangoes are being planted closer It’s funded through the Cooperative
together and on trellises as part of Research Centre for Developing
semi commercial trials on properties Northern Australia.
at Mareeba, Bowen and Katherine. The
trees have been planted at a spacing of
three metres, rather than the current Season Stats
standard of nine metres for the most Abnormal weather events
popular Kensington Pride (KP) variety. including frost and fire will
Project lead Dr Geoff Dickinson from see fewer TNQ mangoes hit the
the Department of Agriculture and shelves this summer.
Fisheries (DAF) at Mareeba, said
branches are also being trained across Mareeba/Dimbulah mango crop
trellises. “These systems have shown 2018/19 season total
great promise to significantly increase 2.6 million trays
the quantity and quality of mango fruit
yields within DAFs on-going Small Tree 2019/20 season forecast
High Productivity initiative,” he said. 1.9 million trays
“Added benefits from these systems
include adaptation to automation and Source: Australian Mango Industry Association 1

1. Manbulloo Mangoes
2. Qantas freighter

“Before we were restricted because it was
all live seafood going directly to Hong
Kong and there just wasn’t the room for
other commodities. The live seafood
was the priority because export of that

Now, with the two
extra wide bodied
2
aircraft it opens
Freight flights Cathay Pacific’s flights, which ran up opportunities
for 25 years, have been replaced by a
EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES twice-a-week Air Niugini service via to expand”
Port Moresby, and a Qantas freighter Lilian Auvaa
Export opportunities have once a week. The Director of Herli Herli Group
been boosted through the Group, which specialises in freight
introduction of Air Niugini and management and supply chain solutions product is so time-sensitive. Now, with
the two extra wide bodied aircraft it
from regional Australia to Asia and
Qantas flights to Hong Kong. the Pacific, told Tropic the deal sparked opens up opportunities to expand.”
Words: Renee Cluff interest from exporters early on. “Within Ms Auvaa said fresh produce that would
minutes of the announcement we took have previously been sent to Brisbane for
our first booking,” Lilian Auvaa said. export is now going through Cairns.

22 • Tropic • Issue 21