Haspe said that because of the unusual weather patterns felt in the city’s highlands early this year, a significant number of durian trees did not bear fruit in time for the Kadayawan season.
Typically, according to Haspe, the annual volume of durian that the city produces can reach over 12,000 metric tons (MT). The city recorded 15,485 MT of durian in 2019, over 17,000 MT in 2020, and 12,930 MT in 2021. However, only over 3,000 MT of durian were harvested for the first half of this year.
Haspe said the city will still deliver its commitment to have an abundant supply of durian during the Kadayawan season by outsourcing from neighboring regions.
Haspe confirms that his office is currently in talks with durian consolidators from other regions to import durian into the city in order to respond to the high demand of the fruit during Kadayawan season.
“We are now discussing with the Durian Industry Council Association of Davao City, if, based on their monitoring, there is available supply from neighboring provinces and regions, just like North Cotabato, Kidapawan, Makilala, to supply the need for durian during that period,” Haspe told the media during I Speak Forum last Thursday (July 28).
Although there is still durian left to be harvested from the city’s highlands, this will still not be enough to supply the market and the estimated 50,000 tourists who are expected to come during the Kadayawan season.
“As we have observed based on our monitoring, there are still some left in some parts of Toril, portions of Marilog and Baguio, Calinan. Maybe that will no longer reach 5,000 ton,” Haspe further said.
Admitting that this Kadayawan season’s durian harvest in the city is proving to be underwhelming, Haspe said, the industry remains to be lucrative. He added that more and more farmers are engaging in durian production due to its favorable prices in the global market.
In 2019, the total land area for durian farming in the city was recorded at 3,222 hectares. This has since increased to 3,389 hectares in 2021.
Haspe said the city’s durian processors have also been increasing in number.
“Our durian processors here in the city are increasing. There is one in Calinan, here in Tibungco; they come to our office to ask where they can find supply,” he said. Ruth Palo
Contributed Photo