DAVAO CITY, Philippines — September 9, 2025. The distinct aroma of durian may soon carry a stronger brand for Mindanao, as the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), together with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Center for Asian Mission for the Poor Asia (CAMP Asia), continues to transform local farms into globally competitive producers.
In a field visit on Tuesday, MinDA and its partners inspected durian farming sites in Barangay Manuel Guianga, Tugbok District, and Barangay Wangan, Calinan District—two of Davao City’s prime fruit-growing areas. The visit showcased the progress of the three-year project, “Sustainable Agricultural Environment Establishment through Durian Producer Cooperative Organization in Mindanao, Philippines (2023–2025).”
The initiative has strengthened farmer cooperatives, introduced organic fertilizer trials, enhanced technical training, and piloted frozen durian production—an innovation seen as key to breaking into the export market. Branding strategies have also been tested to help durian stand out in regional and global markets.
For local growers, the benefits are already tangible. Farmers reported lower input costs, higher productivity, and new opportunities to access buyers beyond Mindanao. “This project made us realize that durian is not only for local consumption—it can be a global product if we prepare ourselves,” one farmer shared during the site visit.
MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno stressed the importance of engaging directly with farming communities to ensure that development projects leave real impact. “This visit affirms our commitment to building a globally competitive durian industry while uplifting the lives of Mindanao’s farmers,” Magno said during KOICA’s courtesy visit to MinDA a day prior.
KOICA Philippines Country Director JUNG Young Sun lauded the project’s progress and reaffirmed KOICA’s support for initiatives that combine inclusive growth with environmental sustainability. CAMP Asia also reported increasing interest from other durian-producing provinces to replicate the cooperative model.
The effort underscores MinDA’s role as a catalyst for agricultural modernization in Mindanao, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call to transform the Philippine countryside. It also reflects the Marcos administration’s thrust to deepen international partnerships as a pathway to food security, rural development, and regional equity.
Now entering its final year of implementation, the project is expected to leave behind not only stronger cooperatives but also a blueprint for durian farmers across Mindanao. For MinDA, the push is part of its broader Building a Better Mindanao campaign—anchored on the belief that a more resilient and innovative agriculture sector is key to lasting growth.