Batac, Ilocos Norte—The Department of Agriculture is aiming to increase garlic production in the Ilocos Region with the use of different garlic varieties.
“We aim to increase garlic production through identification of suitable areas via a multi-location trial of registered garlic varieties and other cultivars,” said DA Ilocos Region Center Chief Wilma A. Ibea.
A cultivar is a plant variety that has been produced in cultivation by selective breeding.
Ibea is also the project leader of DA Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR)-funded research Multi-location Adaptabilty Trial of Garlic Varieties and other Garlic Cultivars in Region 1.
“We have 13 experimental sites all over Region 1 to test the adaptability of six garlic varieties and one cultivated variety,” she said.
The garlic varieties planted in experimental sites are Balitok, Gameng, Sanikua, Bang-ar, NSIC2017 Gro6, and NSIC2017 Gro7 MMSU Gem. The cultivar planted is the Batanes White variant.
“We also want to determine the biophysical and climatic characteristics of potential growing areas,” Ibea added.
The Ilocos Region is the largest garlic-producing region in the country, and Ilocos Norte is the top provincial producer.
DA BAR Applied Communication Division Head Julia Lapitan said: “There have been researches here in Ilocos region like the GA3 technology that boosted garlic production and has helped local farmers.”