By EARL O. CONDEZA
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY, PHILIPPINES – As Davao launches the Kadayawan Durian Festival from August 10 to 25, durian vendors like Tate at the Magsaysay Park struggle to keep his small business afloat.
“Lugi jud, samot nag mumingaw.Unya dyis ra ang patong (I’m losing. It gets worse when durian is not in season. I can only add ten pesos to the original price),” Tate told Davao Today.
Asked what he needs to make his business thrive, Tate said he would like to have additional capital if the government can give to keep his small store going.
Tate wonders if the Durian Industry Road Map prepared by durian industry players and the Department of Agriculture XI would help small vendors like them.
Durian industry players are laying out a Durian Industry Road Map to boost the fruit industry in the next five years.
Larry Miculob, Chair of the Mindanao Fruit Council said the road map is targeting an increase of durian plantations in Davao Region from 6,000 to 10,000 hectares by 2017, and an increase in durian production from 37,000 metric tons to 100,000 metric tons for the same period.
The plan will also increase budget support for technology, nursery development, research, training, organizational development, product enhancement and marketing promotions, and public-private partnership in major investments in processing.
The plan doesn’t say how small vendors would figure in the distribution and promotion of the fruit.
Remelyn Ricoter, executive regional director of the DA XI said the road map needs P7.6 million funds.
Davao is the region’s biggest producer of durian cornering 78% of the annual durian production.
Miculob said in an earlier news report that durian has a big market overseas such as China which needs about 800 tons of durian monthly. (Earl O. Condeza, davaotoday.com)
Davao Durian, kadayawan, kadayawan 2013, Trade
