Mango is the second most cultivated fruit in Cambodia, just behind the bananas. But the problem is that it spoils quickly. “In addition, the harvest season is relatively short. Therefore, the locals must either sell it below cost relatively soon or let it rot. So drying this fruit will help them a lot. For them, it means a more stable supply both for their consumption and for sale,” said Petr Němec from the Institute of Forest Botany, Dendrology and Geobiocoenology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology at MENDELU.
Czech scientists have already trained farmers in mango processing, packaging, and also marketing the sale of fruit on the local and foreign markets. Cambodia is a major producer of this commodity and most of the country is suitable for its cultivation. This Asian country is also one of the 5 largest mango producers worldwide. Mango exports have grown significantly in recent years, currently hovering around 200,000 tons per year.
“The problem is the fact that the vast majority of exports are in the form of fresh mango, ie without added value. Then, for example, Cambodian mangoes are sold cheaply to neighboring Vietnam, where this is further processed into various products that are already sold at higher prices. The added value does not remain in Cambodia, but another country,” said Němec.
One of the goals of the United Nations-funded project was to bring farmers closer to the world of national and international trade. Thus, they underwent training, during which, among other things, they gained knowledge about export and its requirements. Partner Czech company Holistic Solutions s.r.o. offered them cooperation as a customer.
Experts from the Czech Republic helped start the production of dryers. The technology is completely new and innovative for the locals. Three solar dryers were handed over to three local farming communities. “Mechanization will bring them higher financial returns from their own harvest and can also support food self-sufficiency,” Němec added.
Contact for more information: Ing. Petr Němec, Ph.D., Department of Forest Botany, Dendrology and Geobiocoenology FFWT MENDELU, petr.nemec@mendelu.cz, phone.: 545 134 064.
More news
-
Globally, coffee provides a livelihood for 125 million people. But forecasting models show that its cultivation has a poor future due to climate change. Sites suitable for growing Coffea arabica are predicted to decline dramatically. In that case,…4. 8. 2025
-
WATERLINE Workshop: International Water Research Experts were Shaping the…
On July 2nd WATERLINE organised a workshop for International Water Research Experts for in-depth consultation on policy recommendation guidelines on Digital Water Innovation.25. 7. 2025 -
Mendel fights a pea monster at the substation on Drobného Street
A unique mural dedicated to the father of genetics, Gregor Johann Mendel, now adorns the transformer station on Drobného Street near the MENDELU campus. The aim is to remind passers-by and those passing by of his personality and contribution to…21. 7. 2025 -
Saharan bacteria boost vine root growth by up to half
The vine is attacked by a number of pathogenic fungi that can completely destroy the plant within a few years. They usually get in through the cut wound. And if the plant is also stressed by drought and high temperatures, they are even more…15. 7. 2025 -
Heat and drought are damaging urban lawns. New species from the Pannonian…
Urban lawns, but also grasslands in the open countryside, are being negatively affected by climate change. This brings with it heat and drought, which not only causes grasslands to dry out, but also changes their composition and decreases their…3. 7. 2025 -
Healthy energy shots won the second year of the MENDELU Boost student…
The winner of the second year of the MENDELU Boost student business ideas competition was healthy energy drinks. The second place went to car accessories made from a 3D printer with a special coating, while the third place went to drones made from…23. 6. 2025 -
MENDELU opens renovated building of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
After approximately two years, Mendel University in Brno is reopening Building D, which has undergone a complete reconstruction. The building, which houses the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, is now named the Professor Adam Pavilion, after…20. 6. 2025 -
MENDELU to lead international project supporting innovation in precision…
Mendel University in Brno has been awarded a prestigious grant from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) to implement an international project focused on fostering innovation in the field of precision medicine, titled…12. 6. 2025 -
International scientific team focuses on the impacts of Mediterranean cyclones
The Mediterranean basin is often subject to strong weather events caused by Mediterranean cyclones (medcyclones). These weather phenomena, which are sometimes comparable in intensity and impact to hurricanes, affect the weather in the region and are…5. 6. 2025 -
Five Female Wolves Fitted with GPS Collars in the Beskydy and Javorníky…
Researchers from the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology at Mendel University in Brno have successfully captured and fitted GPS telemetry collars on five female wolves in the Beskydy and Javorníky Mountains over the past two years. These collars…28. 5. 2025