DAVAO City exported 5,442.78 metric tons of fresh and frozen durian to different countries from January to September 2023, a huge spike compared to the 2,300 metric tons from the whole year 2022.
According to the National Plant Quarantine Services Division of the Bureau of Plant Industry, a total of 2,690.78 metric tons of fresh durian were exported to China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and the United States.
Meanwhile, 2,752 metric tons of frozen durian were exported to Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and the US this year.
Emmanuel Belviz, Durian Industry Association of Davao City president, said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently committed to shipping 50,000 metric tons of durian to respective countries, particularly China.
“Actually it is doable kasi ang supply naman for the whole Philippines, from the 2016 data, it is around 79,000 metric tons,” Belviz said.
To achieve this, farmers must follow certain requirements, such as being certified in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), one must have a farm code, the China Compulsory certification for farms, and processing plans from China, among others.
“When you say GAP certified kasi, you have to do recordings sa inputs and outputs (farming) mo, para maipakita mo sa buyer mo that you are a GAP certified farm, and ‘these are my inputs, I don’t exceed my chemical and fertilizer use, and this is my harvest’–medyo complicated kasi yung requirements na hinihingi sa kanila,” he added.
He also said the Department of Agriculture and the local government units have been exerting efforts to help local farmers through GAP, and other training, as most of the growers are still considered “backyard farmers.”
