By Manny Piñol
Tanauan City, Batangas – A Batangueño agri-entrepreneur and a group of garlic experts from India have established a one-hectare demo farm here to show that garlic could be grown in the Philippines outside of the traditional production areas.
German Panghulan, who owns Vetmate, a veterinary company which is now branching out to Garlic production, said the pioneering project in his farm in Banjo Laurel, Tanauan City is being done with the help of experts from India.
I visited Panghulan’s farm yesterday and saw very encouraging results with several Garlic varieties in separate plots showing good harvest potentials.
“We faced a lot of challenges in establishing the Demo Farm, especially since Batangas is not really a Garlic Production area and also because we planted during the off-season,” Panghulan said.
To ensure the success of the Demo Farm, Vetmate used soil enhancers recommended by the Indian Garlic experts and an efficient drip irrigation system.
“What we have here are different varieties of Garlic for different locations in the country,” he said, pointing out a plot of “Hill Variety” Garlic which he said could be grown in the Cordillera.
He said that in India, Garlic is grown in almost all regions of the country.
“It is just a question of the right variety and the correct technology,” Panghulan told me yesterday.
The Batangas Garlic Demonstration farm is scheduled to be harvested in April this year.
Panghulan, who supported President Rody Duterte’s campaign in Batangas in 2016, said he decided to invest in Garlic Production to support the government’s agriculture program.
Garlic is one of the most heavily imported agricultural product by the Philippines, along with Bulb Onion.
Bulb Onion production, however, has increased dramatically over the last two years with the support of the Department of Agriculture through the Easy Access Loan Program.
The success of the Batangas Garlic Demonstration Farm could greatly increase the production of Garlic which is a vital ingredient in Filipino cuisine.
(Photos of the Batangas Garlic Demonstration Farm were taken by Vic Calderon.)
More Stories
Breeding Season Starts!
Practical Tips On Cattle Feeding!
Bamboo Goat House Model Now Ready For Occupancy!