Dan and Elizabeth Turk are mission co-workers serving in Madagascar since 1997. “Dan the Mango Man” works with the FJKM (the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar) church’s Fruits, Vegetables, and Environmental Education Program (FVEE), which grows fruit trees to help people increase income and improve nutrition and native trees to increase environmental awareness.
Why Mangos?
Many consider the mango the world’s best fruit. Mango trees also grow well in low fertility soils and produce fruit during the time of year when other foods are scarce, providing calories and nutrition when many people go hungry. More land is suitable for growing mangos in Madagascar than any other major fruit grown without irrigation. Dan and FJKM colleagues have identified a huge potential for improving mango production by growing selected grafted varieties. By growing grafted commercial-quality mangos, farmers can improve their lives via increased income and help contribute to their families’ food security by producing nutritious food during the hardship time of year.
Mango Palace at Mahatsinjo
In 2015, with the help of local FJKM pastors, Dan and colleagues located property at Mahatsinjo, 4.5 hours NW of the capital by road, to establish a fruit center. The mayor donated the land that is now registered in the name of the FJKM church. In November 2016, construction began on a multipurpose building to serve as a place where a nursery worker could live and train others. Approximately 270 fruit trees were soon planted along with numerous native trees. An irrigation system was installed at the center in early 2018, which also provides drinking water for the center and the nearby village of Ambararata. After a second building was constructed, the fruit center, called the Mango Palace, was inaugurated on 20 March 2020.
Training for pastors, farmers, church members and evangelists began in 2018. Usually 3-5 days long, at each training trainees learn to grow and graft fruit trees and how to start a fruit tree nursery. Each trainee takes home 5-10 fruit trees to plant.
Other work of the FVEE Program
The FVEE has now set up 5 other fruit tree centers in different parts of Madagascar. Two of these, at Ivato and Mandritsara, are operated by FJKM seminaries. Two others, at Ankaramena and Betroka, are operated by local FJKM congregations. The fruit center at Ankaramena, located on National Road #7 in South Central Madagascar, will provide grafted mango trees to help alleviate hunger in southern Madagascar.
The FVEE also is producing native trees at the Mango Palace and other centers for planting at schools and churches to promote the preservation of Madagascar’s amazing biodiversity.
Many thanks to all who support the work of the FVEE to help relieve hunger, promote stable livelihoods, and preserve creation. Thanks be to God.