The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office No. 2 (DA RFO2), in coordination with national agencies and the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) of Batanes, has rolled out a comprehensive package of agricultural interventions aimed at revitalizing the local garlic industry, focusing primarily on the island municipality of Itbayat.

Known for producing some of the country’s strongest-tasting organic garlic varieties, Itbayat’s local growers are poised to benefit from institutional market links, post-harvest facility upgrades, and technological support designed to make local production more sustainable and profitable.

To protect the distinct characteristics of the native crop, the DA is facilitating the official registration of Itbayat garlic with the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC). This legal framework will establish quality control mechanisms, enhance its commercial value, and guarantee product authenticity in domestic markets.

Concurrently, DA Assistant Secretary for Operations U-Nichols Manalo and DA RFO2 Regional Executive Director Dr. Rose Mary G. Aquino introduced targeted soil interventions during recent dialogues with the Itbayat Garlic Producers Association (IGPA). Agronomists highlight the introduction of boron as a key micronutrient to enhance garlic bulb density, uniformity, and overall yield, ensuring local harvests meet commercial standards outside the province.

A major bottleneck for Ivatan farmers has been the isolation of the island, coupled with a lack of proper holding facilities, which previously resulted in supply gluts and spoilage.

In Batanes, particularly on the island of Itbayat, garlic farmers preserve their garlic planting materials through a traditional smoking method (pinapausukan).

Because the island is geographically isolated and lacks commercial cold storage infrastructure for garlic, local farmers rely on this time-tested method to keep their premium seed stocks viable from the harvest season until the next planting cycle.

How the Smoking Method Works:

• Hanging and Curing: After the organic garlic (such as the distinct “Batanes Red” or “Batanes White” varieties) is harvested and bundled, it is typically hung up in well-ventilated areas, often above or near traditional wood-burning kitchen hearths or dedicated smoking sheds.
• Continuous Smoke Exposure: The gentle, continuous exposure to heat and smoke dries out any remaining moisture in the outer layers of the bulbs without cooking the cloves inside.
• Natural Protection: The compounds in the wood smoke act as a natural deterrent against common post-harvest threats. It forms a protective barrier that prevents mold, fungal rot, and infestation from destructive pests like garlic thrips (Thrips tabaci).

This indigenous preservation technique ensures that the planting materials remain dormant, healthy, and rot-free for months, keeping the local agricultural tradition alive despite severe seasonal weather and logistical bottlenecks.

“Processing smaller or rejected bulbs into value-added products will ensure that no part of the harvest goes to waste, immediately boosting household incomes,” noted DA officials during a stakeholder consultation.

Recognizing the economic impact of heavy dependency on garlic imports nationally, the DA High Value Crops Development Program (DA-HVCDP) is building direct supply chains. Ivatan growers are being linked to institutional buyers, including processed food manufacturers—such as bangus (milkfish) producers in Pangasinan who rely heavily on high-potency garlic for local delicacies. Transportation and logistical assistance will continue through the agency’s Kadiwa program, which helps ferry bulk produce from ports directly to major trading hubs in Metro Manila and mainland Luzon.

The government has already established a robust buying and distribution mechanism for Itbayat’s garlic farmers, ensuring they are well-compensated without relying on ad-hoc crisis marketing:

• Total Volume Procured: A total of 40 Metric Tons (40MT) of native garlic has already been successfully procured directly from Itbayat farmers.
• Premium Pricing: Farmers were compensated at a competitive rate of ₱185 per kilogram, guaranteeing strong returns on their labor.
• Zero Freight Logistics Cost for Farmers: To eliminate the heavy financial burden of island logistics, the Department of Agriculture fully shouldered all freight and shipping costs to transport the yield from Batanes to major mainland markets.

Beyond immediate purchasing, a strategic initiative is underway to address the broader reality that the Philippines is currently 90% dependent on imported garlic. The native garlic from Batanes is vital to correcting this imbalance:

• Fertilizer Support: The DA provided 20 Metric Tons (20MT) of Organic Fertilizer to directly support the Garlic Seed System in Batanes.
• Mainland Expansion: The high-quality seeds produced through this program are being systematically utilized for planting expansion areas across the mainland, scaling up national production capacity and reducing import reliance.

To ensure production volume remains stable against biological threats, the DA-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) is also spearheading intensive field training on pest management. This training focuses primarily on controlling garlic thrips (Thrips tabaci), a persistent pest that historically limits yield in rainfed northern fields.

Through these combined infrastructure, policy, and scientific interventions, DA RFO2 aims to transform Itbayat’s time-honored farming tradition into a highly resilient and competitive economic driver.

via Dr. Ferdinand Cortez