By Noel T. Provido / Contributor
DAVAO’S favorite fruit durian is spreading its smell into the international markets. From Singapore in 2013, this year, our locally grown fruit has recently set foot in China, the world’s largest market.
Durian grower Larry Miculob made his first shipment of 14 tons of durian to China in May through three Chinese fruit processors he met in Manila.
Miculob said Thailand and Malaysia are the leading durian suppliers to China, but lately, we’re not able to cope with the huge demand, thus, paving the way for Chinese buyers to consider importing the fruit from the Philippines, particularly in Davao City.
“The initial export of durian to China only shows that our product is at par with leading global suppliers and that we can compete with them in terms of quality,” he said. Miculob, also the chairman of the Davao Durian Industry Council (DDIC), attributed “the improved quality of our durian fruits to the package of technologies, developed and disseminated by the Department of Agriculture [DA],” which enabled the farmers to observe good agricultural practices. “The DA, through the High Value Crops Development Program [HVCDP] has also provided us equipment such as shedder, biofertilizer facilities, and marketing support which help the industry link with prospective buyers,” Miculob said. He stressed the need for the industry to continuously increase its volume of production to meet the increasing demand in the international markets. He is confident that after the first shipment to China, more orders will be placed. He added that Hong Kong is also in demand of 36 tons to 40 tons a week of durian fruits.
“Expanding our export market is one opportunity local durian growers should seize to avoid a supply glut, especially during peak season. The council [DDIC] is seeking the support of the DA for the establishment of a cold-storage facility to address not only oversupply, but also to ensure year round availability for global market,” Miculob said.
Miculob said the DDIC, in partnership with the DA, is also looking into product consolidation to meet the growing demand of durian.
“We need to have comprehensive information on growers’ volume of production and their respective site for easier consolidation. This will also help us ensure not only the required quantity but the safety and quality requirements of our existing and potential markets,” he said. Miculob said the industry should also look into the varieties preferred by the international markets which, he said, are mostly Puyat, Chanee, Monthong and Duyaya as these are meaty, creamier and with higher recovery for exporters.
“Vacuum-packed technology is also helpful in improving the quality of our durian exports, as this will prolong the fruit’s shelf life, keep the juice intact and make the packaging more attractive,” he added.
“As Davao’s agri-products such as durian make it in international markets, the DA is now looking into how we can sustain and make a dent in the midst of stiffer competition due to Asean integration,” DA Davao Regional Director Remelyn Recoter said.
“In partnership with industry stakeholders, the DA-HVCDP will continue to put in place the needed interventions such as production and technical support, including strengthening of marketing promotions to better position our durian commodity in the global market,” she said.