The City Agriculturist’s Office (Cagro) noted that the production of durian in Davao City this year has been lower compared to previous years because of the unstable weather conditions.
An unusually low yield of only 3,000 metric tons of durian was harvested for the first half of the year, according to Cagro head Edgardo Haspe during the I-Speak media forum at Davao City Hall on July 28, 2022.
“Isa sa mga problema karon wala nag cooperate ang climate kasi taas kayo ang precipitation period, taas kaayo ang panahon na ulan, wala ta gitagaan panahon nga dry period (Our problem is that the weather did not cooperate. The precipitation period, the rainy season lasted too long, we were not given a dry period),” Haspe said.
He explained that the months of March to May are the supposed dry season but this year, persistent rains occurred which hampered most durian trees to bloom and bear fruit.
The annual production of durian in Davao City in time for the Kadayawan season usually reaches 12,000 metric tons. Last year, 12,930 metric tons of durian were produced, at least 17,000 metric tons in 2020, and around 15,000 metric tons in 2019.
To cover the supply deficit needed for the anticipated 50,000 tourists for Kadayawan, Haspe said the city is in talks with durian growers from other regions and provinces to import durian into Davao City.
“Gina-istorya karon (Discussion is ongoing) with the Durian Industry Council Association of Davao City, based sa pag-monitor nila, kung naa ba (based on their monitoring, if there is still) available supply from neighboring provinces and regions, just like North Cotabato, Kidapawan, Makilala, to supply the need for durian during that period,” he said.
At the same time, they still expected more durian to be harvested from other durian farms in the city, particularly portions of Toril, Sibulan, Catigan, Marilog, Calinan, and Baguio.
“Siguro dili na ni kaabot og 5,000 tons (Most likely this is only less than 5,000 tons),” Haspe said.
Despite this, the Cagro head said the city will work on supplying enough durian for locals and tourists for the whole month of August. ICM