THE production of durian in Davao City is expected to increase by 40 to 70 percent more compared to last year’s production.
Durian Industry Council of Davao City (DICDC) president Larry Miculob said the primary reason for low durian production in 2017 was caused by excess rainfall, even during the summer months, resulting to durian flowers not maturing into fruits.
However, Miculob said that this year more durian fruits harvest are expected.
“The durian production grew from 40% to as high as 70% increase this year, because of the recent technologies and trainings that have been adapted by durian farm owners and manufacturers here,” Miculob said adding that the harvest of durian is to start by the first week of August.
Earlier, Miculob said that they expect the prices to go down from its current P100 per kilogram to only P40 to P60 per kilogram. This decrease in prices is because of more stable production supply.
Aside from durian sold in Davao City, Miculob also said the city is the number one supplier of durian in the country. He said durian products are also sought after internationally, especially among neighboring Asian countries.
One of the challenges that the durian industry currently faces is the conversion of farmlands to residential areas and subdivision. This, according to Miculob, results to insufficient supply and prices are sought to surge higher than usual.
To further promote durian industry, DICDC will have its second Durian Industry Summit on July 19 and 20 at the World Palace Hotel, Ecoland.
“The event will be a discussion of the updates in the durian industry as well as acknowledge the practices credited for the development in the industry. It also serves as an opportunity for every durian growers, processors and stakeholders under this industry,” he said in vernacular.
There will also be a Durian Festival at SM Lanang Premier on August 10 to September 23.
He also noted that there will be a lot of fruits such as mangosteen, lanzones, suha and other fruits for this year’s Kadayawan Festival however the expected peak of production of these fruits would be by the first week of September. (Abigail Joyce Cahiwat, MSU-Marawi Intern)