DURIAN

Durian is a highly suitable crop in the western part of Sarangani particularly in the municipalities of Kiamba and Maitum. The province’s potential area suitable for Durian production is 135,174 hectares.

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist reports that Durian (Duno Zibethines Murray) is fast becoming an important fruit crop in the province with a considerable increased number of consumers.

Its usage is no longer limited to just jams and candies (pastilles) but is now utilized as special blends and flavorings by some food establishments in SOCSKSARGEN.

In the local market, a price per kilo goes as high as Php 80.00 or more making the demand quite great. Aside from our native varieties, there are also several species of hybrid Durian in the province.

Mixed varieties of Durian are mostly planted in the municipalities of Kiamba and Maitum.

MANGO

Mango (Mangifera Indica Linn), the national fruit of the Philippines, has also been noted to be highly suitable in Sarangani. Study says that the province could produce mango of high quality in terms of taste and size because of its favorable climatic condition specifically in the areas of Malungon, Alabel, Maasim, Malapatan and in some parts of Glan.

At least 5,000 hectares of Mango plantation exist in Sarangani. The harvested fruit is marketed locally and some are exported to Japan and Singapore. Some 138,805 hectares have been identified potential for mango production in the province.

BANANA

One of the favorite fruits of the Filipinos for its saccharine-like taste that comes in a number of varieties, banana is a highly suitable crop in Sarangani.

Sarangani has best yields of banana fruit crop, which is best cultivated in sandy loam to clay loam soils with excellent drainage and liberal amounts of organic matter that are rich in the province’s ground.

With an average amount of rainfall per year, Sarangani is ideal place for banana industry having a potential area of 118,697 hectares. Large existing banana plantation is found in the municipality of Alabel.

RUBBER

Rubber (Habea Brsalienses), the versatile tree, which produces indispensable materials for modern living, is mostly grown in the municipalities of Kiamba and Maitum. Some parts of Malungon are also suitable since it has good rainfall.

Sarangani has a total productive area of 526 hectares. Rubber growers usually market their harvests directly to Davao City.

The province has also a 5-hectare techno demo on Rubber called Lam Lunay Research and Learning Center (LRLC), which serves as a showcase of 5 different farming system promoting food production through environment-friendly farming and maximum land utilization to increase production.

The LRLC has also budwood garden with 2,500 stocks reserved for propagation. The potential area for rubber production in Sarangani is 135,174 hectares.

OIL PALM

Introduced in Asia through Indonesia in 1848, Oil Palm (Elaeis Guinoenses, Jacq) is known for its vital oil and nutritive value provided by its main product, palmitic oil. The co-product, lauric oil is extracted from the kernel of its seed, which is key ingredient in making high quality soaps and detergents.

In Sarangani Province, there is no existing oil palm plantation but the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg) through its Commercial Crops and Development Program (CCDP) has identified 117,553 hectares as potential area for Oil Palm production.

It has also zonified the area of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) specifically in the municipalities of Maasim and Malungon for future Oil palm investment. Recently, the province has entered into negotiations with investors from Malaysia for possible investment in Malungon.

ABACA

Abaca is also suitable in Sarangani due to its favorable weather condition, topography and location that are pre-requisites to produce high quality fibers. Sarangani has a potential area of 118,697 hectares for abaca production.

In fact, in the early 60s to 70s Abaca was the main product produced by farmers of Kiamba and Maitum particularly the natives marketing their produce then to Davao City.

At present, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist through Food Security Program, in coordination, with Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) has established one-hectare abaca nursery to produce 20,000 to 40,000 seeds for planting materials.

The seeds will be ready for distribution in the middle of this year (2002). The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist hopes to accommodate investors more or less 20 hectares for Abaca production.