August 12, 2022
The Kadayawan Durian Festival has returned after a two-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The exposition opened at the SM Lanang Premier on Friday. Davao City’s “King of Fruits” is the front and center of the expo along with other iconic fruits of the city, such as marang, rambutan, lanzones, mangosteen, and pomelo.
The festival is organized by the Department of Agriculture (DA), in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Davao City Agriculturist’s Office (CAGRO), the Durian Industry Association of Davao City (DIADC), and SM Lanang Premier .
The festival’s opening was marked by a ceremonial eating of durian and other seasonal fruits. It was participated in by the DA Regional Director Abel James Monteagudo, DOT Regional Director Tanya Rabat Tan, CAGRO officer-in-charge Edgardo Haspe, Councilor Marissa Abella, SM VP for Operations John Tiu, DIADC President Emmanuel Belviz, and others.
Monteagudo said Davao Region contributes 78 percent of the country’s durian production, half of which comes from Davao City.
He added that the durian festival “will not only showcase our fruits but will serve as a good venue for market linkages with local, national and international buyers.”
Meanwhile, Abella said that the city will have to improve its durian production by assisting farmers, applying the latest farming technology, and cultivating the best quality seedlings. In these endeavors, she said, the city council will be in full support of the agriculture sector.
Haspe said although there is a shortage of durian supply in the city, his office has successfully tapped other durian players in other regions, with the help of the DIADC.
Delegates from the Chinese Consulate are currently assessing the quality of Davao City’s durian in order to create a direct linkage of the city’s durian to the Chinese market.
“Hopefully by next year, pwede na gyud na maka-direct export (we can already export directly to China),” Haspe said.
The Kadayawan Durian Festival will be at the SM Lanang Premier Fountain Area from August 12 to Spetember 12. CIO
