In spite of challenges! Mindanao Garlic Production Bright Prospect For Farmers

The Garlic Trials conducted by Braveheart Farms and Vetmate Farma Corp. in three areas in North Cotabato, Makilala, Alamada and Kidapawan City, came up with far from ideal but encouraging results.
The Garlic cloves planted in San Vicente, Makilala grew but the cloves were not large enough to be commercially viable while those grown in the Trial Areas in Dado, Alamada and Paco, Kidapawan City showed very encouraging indicators.
The poor growth of the Garlic in the San Vicente Demo Farm could be attributed to the following factors: Rushed land preparation, heavy rains which followed the planting, absence of drainage and poor weed and pest control management.
In establishing the Garlic Trial Farms in Dado, Alamada and Kidapawan City, we applied the lessons learned from the Makilala Demo Farm.
Thorough land preparation and elevated Garden plots were established which protected the growing cloves from stagnant water.
The use of a mix of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer (14-14-14, Guano, Chicken Manure and Vermicast) resulted in better growth of the Garlic.
The Garlic Cloves in Kidapawan City were also treated with root growth enhancer, anti-fungal solution and insecticide before these were planted.
In the Kidapawan City Trial Farm, a mist irrigation system had been installed in anticipation of the El Niño.
While it will still take a few weeks before Garlic is harvested in Alamada and at least 3 more months for the trial farm in Kidapawan, it had been established that Ilocos Garlic could be propagated in Cotabato and perhaps in the rest of Mindanao;
Future planting and propagation of Garlic, however, must observe thorough land preparation and fertilization protocols, including weed and pest control.
Based on the difference in performance of the Garlic in the Makilala Demo Farm which was planted Oct. to Nov. which were marked with heavy rains, it is best to plant from December to February.
In spite of the initial challenges in the first attempt to plant Garlic, the early indicators show that Garlic Farming could be a profitable activity for Mindanao farmers.
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