Farmers see new opportunities in garlic farming
ROSALES– For the first time in 15 years, farmers in Pangasinan are encouraged to plant garlic anew through the initiative of the Samahan ng Industriya at Agrikultura (SINAG), a multi-sectoral agricultural alliance with the help of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Engr. Rosendo So, SINAG chairman, told local newsmen on Wednesday that the group is eyeing about 100 hectares in various places in the province to be planted with garlic.
With good prices prevailing in the market, each farmer could earn as much as P300,000 in profits per hectare in three and a half months, So said.
Pangasinan farmers stopped planting the commodity after they suffered huge losses 15 years ago. Only the Ilocos Norte farmers continued planting it garlic, he said.
Farmers will be provided with incentives and the proper technology through the DA to diversify their planting, So said.
He said he was assured by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala about the new program for local farmers during the latter’s visit to Urdaneta City last Wednesday to inaugurate the Pangasinan Agri-Pinoy Trading Center.
So believes there is a lot of time to do the transfer of technology since the next planting season is still in October.
SINAG is eyeing to plant garlic intensively in Umingan, Malasiqui, San Carlos City and Urdaneta City.
SINAG is ready to extend a P100,000 loan to farmers, enough to cover all essentials needed to plant garlic in a one hectare lot.
The harvested garlic will be brought to the Trading Center in Urdaneta City and then transported to Metro Manila,.
So said planting of garlic can expand to o upland farms with regular source of water. Areas planted with corn area can also be tapped, î he added.
He encouraged red onion growers to plant garlic since there is now surplus of onion citing 160 million kilos while consumption is only 145 million kilos.
Total local production of garlic is 8 million kilos annually but So believes this will increase to 10 million kilos this year. (Tita Roces)
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