Davao durian growers eye farm expansion

THE DURIAN Industry Association of Davao City (DIADC) is eyeing the expansion of durian farms to cater to the growing demand of the Chinese market.

"So hopefully, dahil sa tuloy-tuloy na pag-export natin at paglaki ng market sa China, we plan in the future to expand more durian farms, and to teach other farmers how to produce good quality. (So hopefully, due to our continuous exports and market growth in China, we plan in the future to expand more durian farms, and to teach other farmers how to produce good quality)," DIADC president Emmanuel Belviz said in an interview with China Media Group Serbisyo Filipino on Oct. 17.

Belviz also assured that they are producing good quality durian.

"The farms that we use to send to China have the approval of the Bureau of Plant Industry and the approval of the General Administration of Customs China (GACC), because the government endorsed our farm through them," he said.

To ensure that durians being sent to China are of good quality, Belviz said they are following good agricultural practices.

"We follow good nutrient management on our farm. Every year we do soil testing, and we do nutrient evaluation in our trees," he said.

Earlier this year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the protocol for the export of fresh Philippine durian was already signed, paving the way for Chinese importers to source the fruit from the Philippines.

Manila and Beijing agreed on a protocol of phytosanitary requirements for the export of fresh durians from the Philippines to China between the Department of Agriculture and China’s General Administration of Customs. (Anna Leah Gonzales)