Farmers want Pasuquin town declared as garlic capital of PH

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

PASUQUIN, Ilocos Norte—The Association of garlic and onion farmers in this town wants to claim their crown as the biggest producer of Ilocos white gold, asking the Department of Agriculture (DA) through Secretary Proceso Alcala to grant their request.

Records from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics show that Ilocos Norte is the top producer of garlic in the Philippines, contributing at least 69 percent or 6,284 metric tons (MT) of the national output in 2010 next to Occidental Mindoro with 22.03 percent or 2,012MT, Nueva Ecija, 3.55 percent or 324MT, Quezon, 2.93 percent or 268MT and Ilocos Sur 2.68 percent or 245MT.

On March 10, provincial board member Albert Chua, chairperson of the committee on agriculture reported to the body about the letter-request of the Association of Garlic and Onion Growers of Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte addressed to the Alcala to declare Pasuquin town as the garlic capital of the Philippines for being the top producer of garlic in the province.

Wilfredo Valdez, president of the garlic and onion growers in Pasuquin said in his letter that being the top producer of garlic in the province and to further promote the product, let it be known that Pasuquin be declared as garlic capital of the country.

In Ilocos Norte, Pasuquin town has about 620 hectares planted with garlic with an average yield of 2,382MT delivered in 2013, based on a presentation entitled “Garlic Industry Roadmap of Ilocos Norte” done by researchers from the Mariano Marcos State University, tasked by the Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the provincial government of Ilocos Norte to revitalize the garlic industry here.

This is followed by Vintar with 278 hectares or a yield of 889MT, Sarrat, 113 ha or 332MT, Burgos, 114ha or 399MT and San Nicolas, 110 ha or 297MT respectively.

From 2005 to 2013, the volume of garlic production in Ilocos Norte however have been decreasing, resulting to fluctuating farm gate prices pegged at 85/kg-45/kg.

Farmers said this is mainly due to poor quality of planting stocks and lack of support from the government.

In late 2013, the provincial government and the DA in partnership with the MMSU converge to revitalize the garlic industry here and harness it potential as the garlic capital of the country.

Garlic grows well in Ilocos Norte because of its suitable soil and climatic conditions.

With a revitalized garlic industry in the province, the Ilocos Norte Federation of Garlic Growers in Ilocos Norte with at least 124 memberships hopes to improve the quality of their produce and compete in the global market.

To date, a garlic trading post is waiting to become fully operational in Pinili town with available production and marketing assistance in place.