By Mai Gevera

Davao City (12 July) -- Davao Durian growers are all surprised with the early growing and harvest season of the durian fruit.

Before, the region is flooded with durian starting August until October. But now, growers need to harvest as early as July and they estimated that the fruit supply would dwindle and run out by August.

This has pushed the Regional Tourism Council head by its chairperson Alma Uy to move the Durian Festival initiated by the City of Tagum on a much earlier date.

"Instead of August, we will celebrate the festival on July 18 when the production of the durian fruit is at its highest," she said during the Kapihan sa Kapitolyo, Thursday.

Uy came up with the decision after checking the durian plantations in Davao del Norte and most of the growers suggested to move the festival earlier so the public can see and eat more durian fruits.

The growers also attributed the sudden change of the Durian harvest season to climate change.

"We can no longer understand the climate. Sometimes we get too much heat and then suddenly we experience consecutive rains," said Uy.

This has also made the growers to mark up the price of the durian fruit. Instead of P50 per kilo, most growers are now selling it at P60.

Uy, who is a grower herself, admitted that durian growers deserve to hike the durian price since their production has significantly decreased due to various factors.