2006 Mango Season - Crops, Forestry & Horticulture 

 2006 NT Mango Season Draws to a Close by Greg Owens, Senior Extension Officer 1/12/06

Most growers and packers reporting high production and good prices.  The 2006 NT Mango harvest has passed 17,500 tonnes (approx 2.5 million 7 kg trays).  This is larger than original estimates of 14,000 to 15,400 tonnes (2.0-2.2million 7 kg trays).  Production from Darwin was 13,500 tonnes and from Katherine 4,000 tonnes.  Some of the Katherine fruit was packed and dispatched from Darwin.  It is estimated that 11,000 tonnes was grown in Darwin and 6,500 tonnes grown in Katherine.  The higher production was a result of a longer than expected harvest period of 10 - 11 weeks and a reduction in the predicted overlap of the Darwin and Katherine harvest periods.

The 2006 season also saw a much higher ratio of first grade to second grade fruit due to the lack of rain during the harvest period.  It has been a season of high production and good prices, an unusual combination but an indication that the consumer public was happy with the product and continued to buy mangoes throughout the NT season.

Pre-planning for labour and transport requirements by the NT Horticulture Association (NTHA) and NT Mango Industry Association (NTMIA) and the allied industries, based on the crop forecast by RDPIFR, contributed to a very successful season.  The long production period then allowed for good utilisation of packing and transport infrastructure and available labour. The training program for pickers and packers run jointly by the NTHA and Charles Darwin University was of great assistance to the readiness of harvest labourers for the industry.

The NTHA has been presented with an inaugural Award for Innovative Safety Strategies during Safe Work Australia Week, 22–28 October 2006.  This award has been presented for best solution to an identified health and safety issue/risk in the workplace.  The award was presented by Hon Minister Paul Henderson.

The NT Mango industry is becoming more professional and forward looking and the local and national Mango Industry Associations are becoming more effective in their support for their members.

RDPIFR/Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) Mango Crop Forecasting Project has made a significant contribution to the success of the season.  RDPIFR/HAL Top End Better Mangoes Project will provide a benchmark of current supply chain outcomes and will impact on supply chain management in coming seasons.  The previous season with this high production and good prices outcome was in 1999 and since then the industry has had six difficult or mixed result seasons.  The 2006 NT Mango harvest maintains the biennial high-low fruit production pattern.  In the large 2000, 2002 and 2004 seasons there were industry problems with cooling capacity, harvest labour, transport availability. The 2001, 2003 and 2005 seasons were low production years were the logistics and infrastructure of the NT mango industry were not challenged. 

Predicted Dates for Dry Matter Testing as at 24/10/06

• No: 6 Predicted dates for dry matter testing - 24 October 2006
• No: 5 Predicted dates for dry matter testing - 10 October 2006
• No: 4 Predicted dates for dry matter testing - 19 September 2006
• No: 3 Predicted dates for dry matter testing - 5 September 2006
• No: 2 Predicted dates for dry matter testing - 15 August 2006
• No: 1 Predicted dates for dry matter testing - 3 August 2006 

  Mango Flowering Survey

• No: 2 Flowering Survey - 15 August 2006
• No: 1 Flowering Survey - 15 July 2006 

Mango Production Trends

• 1990 - 2005 Graph

 Transport Forum

• NTMIA Transport Forum 9 August 2006

 Harvest Labour Forum

• NTMIA Harvest Labour Forum 9 August 2006

 Interstate Certification Assurance Scheme

• Interstate certification Assurance (ICA) Scheme is a system of plant health certification based on quality management principles.

Taking NT Mangoes Interstate for 2006/07

• Requirements for sending NT Mangoes Interstate for 2006/07 Information Sheet