This is a photo of a fruit farmer and durian taken on October 30th in Katigan Village, Toril District, Davao City, Philippines. Photo by Nie Xiaoyang, Xinhua News Agency reporter
Davao, Philippines, November 6 (Xinhua) — “The journey of a durian is also a road connecting hope” – Philippine durian exports to China bring new vitality to local fruit farmers
Xinhua News Agency reporter Nie Xiaoyang
As soon as the rain stopped, the off-road vehicle struggled to move forward on the slippery mountain road, with wheels rolling up waves of mud. The durian season in the Philippines is coming to an end, and most of the fruits on the flat ground have been harvested. Recently, reporters visited the durian plantation in Davao City, southern Philippines, following local fruit farmers up the mountain.
Davao is known as the “Hometown of Durian in the Philippines”, with durian exports accounting for over 80% of the country’s total. Local durians mostly grow on volcanic soil and moist slopes, with thick and fragrant flesh. Since the Philippine durian was approved to enter the Chinese market in 2023, China has quickly become its fastest-growing overseas market.
In Katigan Village, Toril District, Davao City, the mountains are undulating and the greenery is layered. Looking around, durian trees are connected one by one, with some branches adorned with dense clusters of fruits. In an orchard, farmers are busy transporting chicken manure and cutting grass. We use all organic fertilizers, no herbicides, and rely on manual labor to cut grass, “said a fruit farmer wiping his sweat.
In the nearby village of Inayang’an, durian farmer Jemima Deo told reporters that since durian could be exported to China, her family’s income has significantly increased, and she has even bought her first car. In the past, a bountiful harvest of durian didn’t necessarily make it easy to sell. Now, harvesting one more durian gives you more peace of mind, “she said with a smile.
On October 30th, at Melon Company in Davao City, Philippines, workers were processing frozen durian meat that was about to be shipped to China. Photo by Nie Xiaoyang, Xinhua News Agency reporter
Li Xiaomei, the head of the local Meilong company responsible for acquiring and exporting durian to China, said that the durian fruit is heavy and the shell is hard and prickly, so it can only be picked manually and carried back down the mountain in bags. In mountainous areas, fruit farmers often rely on motorcycles or tricycles to transport fruits, sometimes only delivering three to five at a time, but this may be the living expenses of a family for a few days.
Meilong Company is located in the Tibango region in the north of Davao, surrounded by orchards and storage areas. In February of this year, the Philippine Department of Agriculture announced that Melon became the first local company in Davao to be approved to export frozen durian meat to China. We want to build a smooth and reliable bridge between local fruit farmers and the Chinese market, “said Li Xiaomei.
At the yard of Meilong Company, workers are busy sorting, cleaning, and drying, and only the highest grade durian can be exported as fresh fruit. Li Xiaomei is directing the workers to pack durians into cardboard boxes with the Chinese words “Philippine Durian” printed on them. In the cold chain workshop, workers wear protective clothing and are busy picking up, sorting, and packaging meat. With this job, not only can I support my family, but I can also keep my child in school, “said female worker Elsa Tipan
Larry Mikulobu, President of the Philippine Durian Exporters Association, said, “Exporting to China gives us more confidence in our lives and encourages us to improve our planting methods
From the fertile land of Davao to the prosperous market in China, our durians carry the hopes and dreams of countless farmers, “said Makario Gonzaga, an official from the Philippine Department of Agriculture.
This is a durian taken on October 30th in Davao City, Philippines, which is about to be shipped to China. Photo by Nie Xiaoyang, Xinhua News Agency reporter
Zhao Xiuzhen, the Consul General of China in Davao, said that China continues to expand its high-level opening-up and create new cooperation opportunities for countries including the Philippines. As the world’s largest importer of durian, China has opened up broader opportunities for the durian industry in the Philippines.
Before parting, the reporter asked the local fruit farmers in Davao to say a word to Chinese consumers. When Chinese consumers peel off a durian, I want them to know that the journey of a durian is not just a story of trade, but a path that connects hope, “said Gemma Dea