Durian Summit set March 13-14

INDUSTRY players will stage the Durian Summit 2013 in Davao City from March 13 to 14 in an effort to improve production and post-harvest facilities not only in the metropolis but also in the Davao Region.

The two-day gathering, set to take place at the Grand Men Seng Hotel, will serve as venue for local durian industry stakeholders to disseminate new farming technologies and discuss crucial concerns affecting the Davao sector.

Candelario Miculob, president of the newly-formed Durian Industry Council of Davao City, said one of the objectives of the meeting is for local growers to find ways at how to expand their market.

Miculob noted that growers, especially in Davao City, are relying mainly on local market which results in a very low selling price particularly during peak season.

He said there's a big market potential for durian, only that growers in Davao have not really ventured in other areas like Luzon and Visayas.

"The problem is distribution and availability of the product in other regions," Miculob said during the weekly "Kapehan sa Dabaw" at the SM-City Davao Monday.

This observation was echoed by City Agriculturist Val Turtur, saying that distribution of durian products by growers are confined mostly in Davao City and other parts in Mindanao.

Turtur said his office is co-organizing the Durian Summit to help expand the market for durian.

Organizers of the event hope to attract 300 participants, which will include individual fruit farmers/growers, representatives of corporate farms, government technicians, exporters and processors.

A detailed marketing strategy will be developed to ensure that the Durian Summit 2013 is extensively publicized prior, during and after the conference.

Aside from the plenary, organizers will also arrange market matching sessions and farm and plant visits for the participants.

Partner institutions for the gathering include the Davao City Investment and Promotions Center, Department of Agriculture, DA-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service, DA-High Value Crops Development Program, DA-Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Products Standards and DA-Bureau of Plant Industry.