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Japanese firm donates garlic processing machine to MMSU

By Reynaldo Andres

February 14, 2019, 7:32 pm

<p>MMSU officials and representatives of the Takara Inc. switch on the black garlic processing machine after a simple turnover ceremony at the MMSU S&T Park. <em>(Photo by Marco Leo A. Magno)</em></p>

MMSU officials and representatives of the Takara Inc. switch on the black garlic processing machine after a simple turnover ceremony at the MMSU S&T Park. (Photo by Marco Leo A. Magno)

BATAC CITY -- Takara Inc., a Japanese company specializing in garlic products, has donated a black garlic (BG) processing machine to the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in this city to help the university become the first Philippine institution to commercialize black garlic production in the country.

Representatives of Takara Inc., led by its president Kimio Takarada, turned over the machine to MMSU president Shirley Agrupis in a simple ceremony at the S&T (science and technology) Park on Monday, and expressed commitment to help the university and the provincial government of Ilocos Norte revitalize the province’s garlic industry.

In an interview, Agrupis said the university and the province are so blessed with the tie-up, noting that “because as soon as BG is commercialized in Ilocos Norte, garlic farmers will become the direct beneficiaries of this effort and that the production of fresh garlic in the province will be improved”.

The machine, installed at the university’s Food Processing and Innovation Center (FPIC), is under the supervision of Dr. Marlowe Aquino, S&T Park director and concurrently the director of the Garlic Research Center (GRC).

The Takarada’s group, which specializes in the production of black garlic and other fruits, vegetables and processed products, has been exploring the exchange of garlic technologies between MMSU and Japan.

Last year, it entered into a partnership with MMSU and Ilocos Norte in order to guide farmers produce bigger garlic bulbs and produce other value-adding products.

After the turnover ceremony, the Japanese guests met with university officials and presented the feasibility survey for increasing garlic production in Ilocos Norte, including its plan to implement the production of black garlic aimed at improving the livelihood of farmers in the country.

“The expected outcome of this effort is to increase the garlic yield of farmers in the province from an average of 3.5 tons to 7 tons,” Hideto Daiko, a member of Takarada’s group, said.

Daiko noted that this development effort will support the Philippine government in implementing the National Garlic Development Plan from 2018-2022 by creating a task force to revitalize the country’s garlic industry.

The plan was contained in House Resolution No. 1312 which was signed on September 18, 2017.

This was followed by the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on September 27 during the year between the province, MMSU, Takara Inc., and the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 1 to establish cooperation and working arrangements to improve the productivity of garlic and develop high value-added garlic products.

“That is why, we are challenged to support this program because of its potential impact on the farmers’ economy,” Daiko said, noting that in Japan, “we merely produce 6 percent of the national demand, while Ilocos Norte is producing 70 percent”.

“Our priority is to increase garlic production and the farmers’ income, improve soil fertility, improve seed quality and sowing method, and introducing Japanese garlic cultivation technique here in Ilocos Norte,” Daiko added, emphasizing that BG processing and virus free seed production techniques will be considered.

Meanwhile, Dr. Dionisio Bucao, of MMSU’s GRC, reported that Pasuquin, Burgos, Vintar and Sarrat towns are still the top producers of fresh garlic with a total productions of 2,310 metric tons (MT), 606.5 MT, 592.5 MT, and 378 MT, respectively, in 2017-2018 production season.

Ilocos Norte remains as the top producer of garlic in the country. (PNA)

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