The Philippines is preparing to expand the production of durian, among other high value crops, following the $2-billion fruit export deal with China, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
“One of the focal points of the discussion is the durian imports by China all over the world.
We (have been) pinpointed as one of the sources that China would like to avail from and they have allocated $260 million initially to start off the project from the Philippines,” Domingo Panganiban, DA senior undersecretary, said in a statement.
Panganiban said to meet and sustain the demand of the Chinese market for fresh durian, necessary measures with concerned regional executive directors (REDs) and Bureau of Plant Industry officials were discussed last Monday.
“We hope and anticipate that this will be a major breakthrough that we should avail of and hope that we should be able to maintain a good relationship with China in the long run,” Panganiban said.
The DA directed REDs to immediately identify potential areas for expansion and formulate necessary work and financial plans to sustain the durian export.
The agency said regional field offices will also conduct capacity building activities to ensure the production of market preferred varieties as well as to develop packing houses and assist in marketing activities.
Earlier this month, the Philippines and China signed the Protocol of the Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Fresh Durians from the Philippines to China which opens up the Chinese market for an estimated 50,000 metric tons of fresh durian.
Initially, the durian will be exported from the list of registered farms in major durian production areas of Davao City, Davao del Sur and North Cotabato, and is expected to generate at least 10,000 direct and indirect jobs from the bilateral venture.
According to the DA, Chinese companies including Dole (Shanghai) Fruits and Vegetables Trading Co. Ltd./Dole China, Prestige International Co. Ltd., Shanghai Goodfarmer Group and the Dashang Group already made purchase commitments worth $260 million for this year.
According to latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country produced 73,867.42 metric tons of durian in 2021, down 6 percent from 78,815.99 MT in 2020. – Jed Macapagal
