THE Philippines is set to start shipping durian to China next month, with an initial 7,500 metric tons, the Bureau of Plant Industry of the Department of Agriculture said yesterday.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said the initial volume of 7,500 MT was sourced from 59 farmers or producers covering some 400 hectares of production area.
The BPI, in a report to President Marcos Jr. during his meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council in Malacañang, said the export of durian is a result of the Chief Executive’s state visit to China in January.
The President met with chief executive officers from the agriculture sector in Beijing during his state visit from January 3 to 5, which resulted in the signing of a protocol for the export of fresh Philippine durian.
Marcos has assured the Chinese business leaders that durian growers, represented in the meeting by the Davao Durian Industry Association, “have long waited for this opportunity and are ready to meet the demands of the Chinese market.”
The Davao region covers 78 percent of the total durian production in the country.
The durian export is part of China’s $2.09-billion purchase intentions for Philippine fruits, which include coconut and bananas.
At least four companies have expressed their intention to purchase more Philippine tropical fruit products especially durian and Cavendish bananas, which are the top drivers for Philippine agricultural exports to China.
