Garlic, the famous “white gold” of Ilocos, took center stage on Thursday through a festival that recognizes its vital importance as one of the world’s top 10 healthiest foods, commonly used as food, condiment, spice and traditional medicine.
Organized by Mariano Marcos State University and the Taiwan Technical Mission in the Philippines, the two-day event in Batac City, Ilocos Norte, includes garlic-themed competitions, booth exhibits, the biggest garlic, novel garlic products, culinary events, and a field day showcasing the Taiwan garlic pilot project in the province.
Although smaller than imported varieties, Ilocos garlic remains competitive in the local market due to its unique aroma and flavor.
Dr. Dionisio Bucao, director of MMSU Research Directorate, said at a press conference that in terms of production quality, the Ilocos garlic can compete with imported varieties by using research-based technologies, such as increasing planting density and providing proper nutrition and care.
Bucao reported that MMSU is currently helping farmers improve soil health and optimize the use of tissue-cultured garlic bulbs to reach a garlic yield goal of about 10 tons per hectare.
“We tried these in different locations of the Philippines and we got around 12 to 14 tons in Cagayan and Nueva Vizcaya,” Bucao said, citing that sustainable garlic production is doable.
With support from the provincial government, which has allocated around PHP2 million for establishing a controlled garlic nursery, he assured that more farmers will have access to clean planting materials to increase their productivity.
Various government agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology, Ilocos Norte provincial government, Takara Incorporated in Japan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines, commit to supporting and maintaining the revitalization of the garlic industry in the province.
In a separate interview, garlic farmer Vicente Bugaoisan from Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, thanked organizers of the 4th Garlic Festival for helping promote their products to a bigger audience.
“Thank you to the government and its support agencies. They have been helpful in providing various inputs to make life easier for us,” he said, citing garlic farming as a source of pride that has supported his family through the years.
Latest government data shows that Ilocos Norte remains the top producer of garlic, with an average production of 4,376 metric tons or 76.51 percent of the national output. (PNA)
