Very positive signs! Very positive signs! Ilocos Garlic Grows Well at 150-masl in Kidapawan

With the successful propagation and harvest of Ilocos Garlic at 500-meters above sea level in Dado, Alamada, Cotabato, we are now closely monitoring the performance of the same variety planted in our trial plots in Paco, Kidapawan City at 150-masl.
The Garlic which was planted in the first three elevated plots is now 45-days old and showing vigorous growth while the last batch of cloves planted on Jan. 30 also shows outstanding growth.
The Kidapawan City Trial Plots are actually an improvement of the planting system introduced by Garlic Farmers from San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte who planted garlic in a flat area in our first trial farm in San Vicente, Makilala, Cotabato October last year.
When the heavy rains came, the first Trial Area was inundated which damaged the young cloves.
Following that experience, we designed elevated plots in both the Dado, Alamada Trial Farm and the Kidapawan City Trial Farm.
We also extensively used organic fertilizer and constantly monitored weeds and the fungal attacks.
So far, I am seeing very encouraging indicators and hopefully, we will be able to successfully harvest a sizable volume from our Kidapawan City Trial Area.
What is significant is that it has been proven that Garlic could be grown in Cotabato, and perhaps the rest of Mindanao, and given the vast areas in the country’s second biggest island, local Garlic production could soon provide for the needs of the country.
Hopefully, happy days for smugglers and importers will soon be over and we will live happily with our aromatic and better tasting “Ilocos Bawang.”

#KungGustoMaramingParaan!