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IT HAS been proven that high-value fruits such as
durian, lychee, longan, longkong, pummelo,
mangosteen and several others can be successfully
grown outside of Mindanao. They also grown well in
Luzon and Visayas.
However, Bernie Dizon, the fruit expert who has been
helping others establish their own orchards of
exotic fruits, stresses that the key to success in
such an endeavor is the planting of the right
varieties and then taking care of them properly.
In the beginning, for instance, the durian or
mangosteen seedlings should be provided with some
shade to protect them from the extreme heat of the
sun. This can be done by planting shade plants such
as lakatan banana. Aside from providing shade, the
bananas will also provide early income to the fruit
grower because tissue-cultured bananas will bear
fruit in less than one year.
Another technique in orchard establishment is the
planting of large planting materials. Five to
seven-year-old rambutan or durian, for instance,
will bear fruit in just a year from planting.
For commercial purposes, growing the right variety for
the target market is very important, according to
Dizon. For instance, the Malaysian durian variety
known as |
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| DURIAN IN TIAONG.
More and more farmers are producing durian
in Luzon. Just like this young tree in
Tiaong, Quezon, which is already productive.
It is found in the farm of lawyer Victor
Lazatin who also grows other exotic fruits
such as longkong, mangosteen, lychee and
longan. Bernie Dizon (right) assisted Atty.
Lazatin in developing his farm. The key to
the success in growing exotic fruits,
according to Dizon, is planting the selected
varieties and taking care of them properly. |
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