SAN MATEO, Isabela -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region 2 has vowed to boost local production of garlic to stop dependency on other countries to supply our needs.
“The Department of Agriculture will intensify garlic production in the whole of Cagayan Valley,” declared Regional Executive Director Narciso Edillo of DA-RFO 02 in his regular morning program “Director’s Hour” at radio station DWDA in Tuguegarao City on Tuesday.
Edillo also included other spices like ginger and onion.
“This is in response to the marching order of (DA) Secretary Emmanuel F. Pinol to conduct field trials in all regions,” he said. “Taking note of the national demand, only 6% are coming from local production. It means we are dependent on other countries to supply our needs.”
DA will hold technology demonstrations or Techno-Demo at its research stations as well as in various research facilities of state colleges and universities. A regional technology forum will be held sometime in November to map out strategies to lower the country’s dependence on imported garlic, the agency announced.
“Cagayan Valley [Region 02] is the third largest producer of garlic in the country,” cites Robert Olinares, the Regional Technical Director working for the High-Value Crops Development Program. He called on farmers in the coastal towns of Cagayan Valley to raise garlic even on a small scale level.
Olinares also encouraged backyard production among households to save money as the price of garlic is high. Ilocos Region and Region 4A are leading garlic producers at present with Cagayan Valley, Batanes and Nueva Vizcaya as the biggest producers. (Abe Almirol/PNA)
