Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

Agroindustry

IICA Assisted St. Kitts and Nevis with Greater Utilization of Mango

Tiempo de lectura: 3 mins.

October 2015: Mango is one of the most prolific and productive fruits grown in St.

October 2015: Mango is one of the most prolific and productive fruits grown in St. Kitts and Nevis.  However, a large amount of this natural resource remains underutilized and goes to waste.  A request was submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Eugene Hamilton, to the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) to assist in enhancing the profitability of the Mango Industry through greater utilization of value added products.  In this regard, a project was developed to assist in improving the incomes of the small scale mango farmers and agro-processors in St. Kitts and Nevis. With IICA’s approval of the project, Dr. Donald Mercer, a professor from Guelph University was contracted to assist with its  implementation. This was done by developing capacities and adding value to mango in hygienic conditions that can facilitate access to local and regional markets.

The Project was divided into two phases.  Phase I was implemented in October 2015 and involved 4 days of practical and theoretical training in various mango products such as mango powder, mango leather, dried natural mango, mango delight, mango jam and dry candied mango.  Some of the topics covered included: the reasons for drying fruits and vegetables; factors influencing quality; blanching of fruits and vegetables; types of dryers; factors influencing drying; mango powder preparation; trail mix product development; and a compendium of mango-base products. A total of 45 persons benefitted from this training and each received a manual on the training.

Phase II of the project is expected to be implemented in early 2016 when training will continue focusing on mango juices. In that Phase, the training will cover topics such as beverage formulation steps and processes; hurdle technology and food additives; beverage cost exercise; chilling and freezing; and Pearson’s Square Calculation.

 

Share

Related news​

Asunción, Paraguay

September 16, 2025

Nidia González, who champions the empowerment of women farmers in Paraguay and strives to raise living standards in her community, has now been recognized as an IICA Leader of Rurality of the Americas 

Nidia is President of the Comité de Santo Domingo, a group that seeks to improve the income and standard of living of the entire community.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

Madrid, España

September 16, 2025

The IICA Director General, during a working visit to Spain, met with the Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas; visited the Spanish Congress and was honored by Universidad de Córdoba

In his meeting with Planas, Otero reflected on the close collaboration with Spain and characterized the Institute’s technical cooperation as systemic, efficient and collaborative, providing benefits to more than ten million farmers and actively undertaking 358 projects to enhance food security and rural development.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

San José, Costa Rica

September 10, 2025

Erick Geovany Ac Tot, a cocoa entrepreneur who promotes high-quality cocoa and the preservation of ancestral trees in Guatemala, is named an IICA Leader of Rurality 

Erick Geovany Ac Tot—a prominent Guatemalan cocoa entrepreneur who has been assisting small farmer organizations, promoting high-quality cocoa production and preserving heirloom trees for years, in addition to being a cocoa taster—has been named a Leader of Rurality of the Americas by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). 

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins