Davao City eyes stronger agricultural trade with China

FRUIT BASKET Assorted fruits grown in Davao are showcased during a recent festival in the city. —BING GONZALES

DAVAO CITY—This city, which President Duterte ruled as mayor for more than 20 years, is hoping to cash in on a shift in foreign policy focus to China, already a big market for fruits and other high value crops that the city, known as Mindanao’s fruit basket, produces.

Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte said he sees a “more energized” agricultural trade relations with China as a result of his father’s decision to veer away from the United States and cozy up to China.

The younger Duterte returned from a week-long business trip to Shanghai, one of China’s most vibrant and fully developed cities, upon the invitation of a committee that is preparing to organize the 2016 China-Philippines Agricultural Forum in December.

He said he had met with Chinese importers and exporters of fresh fruits from the Philippines in Shanghai and discussed trade opportunities, particularly in agriculture.

“Davao City will definitely play a major role in the agricultural cooperation between China and the Philippines,” said the vice mayor, citing the city’s production of high-value crops like bananas, pineapples and coconuts, among others.

The city is considered a major banana producer with about 5,000 hectares dedicated to the Cavendish variety alone. Cavendish is one of the country’s top exports to China, generating about $157 million in export revenue in 2015.

“If we will be able to satisfy international standards and meet the production requirements, it will definitely be beneficial to our farmers and our city,” said Vice Mayor Duterte, who also said he met with Shanghai Vice Mayor Chen Yin.

In a news release issued by the city government, Noel de Luna, the country’s agricultural counselor in Beijing, was quoted as saying the meeting between the Davao delegation headed by Vice Mayor Duterte and Shanghai government and business officials “was a great opportunity not only for Davao but also for Mindanao to be able to export more agricultural products to China.”

“The Philippines is expected to send more agricultural products to China, and at the same time, China could help the Filipino agriculture sector through its technology,” De Luna said.

Nelson Chua, who accompanied Duterte to Shanghai, said Davao City “is the best place for agricultural development because of its fertile soil, climate and rich natural resources.”

“Davao City has also diversified quality crops like bananas and pineapples,” said Chua, chair of the Golden Mindanao Global Holding Company.

Prof. Liang Shumin, of the Shanghai Institute of Agricultural Economics and Development, was quoted in the city government news release as saying that Davao City can also explore the possibility of shipping other agricultural products like durian, avocado, papaya and mushroom to China.

He said Chinese consumer demand is also high for poultry, flowers, and forest products. —ALLAN NAWAL