INQUIRER.net stock image
MANILA, Philippines — Imported garlic is now being sold cheaper in markets than locally harvested bulbs, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Wednesday.
“Based on recent market monitoring, more garlic users prefer imported bulbs, which are sold at P80 per kilo, rather than the locally produced garlic sold at P300 per kilo,” said the DA in a statement.
According to the DA’s latest price watch, which monitors 13 major wet markets in Metro Manila, the retail price of imported garlic is from P100 to P130. The price watch did not state the retail price of local garlic.
“The wide price deficit has forced buyers to shop for the variety sourced from other garlic-producing countries,” said the DA.
The agency said Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur are the top growers of garlic, having a combined area of garlic production of 1,315.70 hectares.
“Come April, a total of 3,947 [metric tons] will be made available to consumers, sourced from the 22 garlic-producing towns of the Ilocos Region,” the DA assured.
A total of 5,890.14 metric tons of garlic were harvested nationwide in 2021 but the total demand reached 139,509 metric tons, said the DA.
In August 2022, the DA told the House of Representatives that it was working on boosting local production of garlic, especially in the Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.