To expand local durian production, the City Agriculturist Office (CAgro) is set to distribute some 10,000 durian seedlings to local farmers next month.

in a press briefing Tuesday afternoon, Edgardo Haspe, the CAgro officer-in-charge, said around 25 to 50 farmers will benefit from the program.

“It is mostly of the Puyat (durian) variety; however, other varieties are still acceptable in the international market. The Puyat variety has an export potential because of its characteristics,” he said.

At present, he said three authorized importers from China have signified interest in the Puyat variety.

“We will give the seedlings (to the farmers) for free and all they have to do is take care of it and increase its production,” Haspe said.

CAgro runs a seedling program for durian farmers in this city’s Baguio district in Calinan, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture in the Davao Region (DA-11).

CAgro encouraged farmers who have open areas located 800 meters above sea level and lower to coordinate with their office, so they could be aided in using advanced intercropping techniques.

The city is conducive for durian production as the crop thrives in areas with an elevation range of 800 meters above sea level.

Based on the 2021 data, at least 4,408 city farmers have planted durian on 3,388 hectares of land. In the same year, they collectively harvested 12,929 metric tons of the fruit.

In April this year, the DA-11 shipped 18 metric tons of durian to China with the Puyat, D-101, Cob and Duyaya varieties.

The exportation of durian aligns with the bilateral agreement on the protocol of Philippine fresh durian to China signed during the state visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. To China early this year. (PNA)