By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas (DA-6) has begun surveying potential areas for durian cultivation in Negros Occidental, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) said yesterday.

OPA head, Dr. Dina Genzola said the DA-6 is also trying to determine if there are local farmers who are interested in durian cultivation.

Genzola said durian was once a known product in Negros Occidental.

The province once shipped durian to other countries.

However, for the past few years, it was replaced by other crops, as some farmers converted their durian plantations into sugarcane fields.

Earlier, DA-6 director Dennis Arpia met with Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.

The DA-6 allocated P855 million in funds to improve the province’s agricultural sector, including the construction of farm-to-market roads.

Aside from cultivating durian, the funds will also be used to improve local rice production.

In the Philippines, the Davao region boasts the largest durian production, being marketed to other countries, such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Korea, reaching 78 percent production in 2021.

The Philippines has been among the Top 10 global durian suppliers since 2014./DGB, WDJ