The Department of Agriculture (DA) is targeting an increase in the Philippines' garlic self-sufficiency to 20 percent by enhancing production in the Ilocos region and other areas across the nation. Agriculture Undersecretary Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero highlighted the strategic emphasis on garlic within the high value crops program, in response to its rising demand. This initiative aims to reduce the nation's reliance on imported garlic, which currently stands at 98 percent of its annual requirement of approximately 130,000 metric tons.
To support this goal, a multiplier farm will be established in Batanes for seedling production, which will then be distributed to selected production areas. The plan includes not only increasing production in the Ilocos region but also in Regions 2, 4-B, and 10. Natividad-Caballero expressed the ambition to re-establish garlic as the "white gold" of the Ilocos region, leveraging its unique aroma and taste that cater to both local and international markets. The DA's efforts also extend to preserving the local garlic variety through a DNA project aimed at preventing intellectual property theft.
This initiative is based on the belief that the local garlic's pungency and taste surpass that of imported varieties, offering consumers a more potent option that could lead to savings. The DA is in the process of finalizing a financial plan to ascertain the budget needed to support the local garlic industry. Current prices in Metro Manila wet markets show local garlic at about P400 per kilogram, in contrast to imported varieties priced between P130 and P180 per kilogram. Despite a two percent decline in garlic production last year, the Ilocos region remains the leading producer, contributing two-thirds of the country's total garlic output.
[ P10 = €0.16 ]
Source: philstar.com
