2014, March 10

Pasuquin – The Association of garlic and onion farmers in this town wants to claim their crown as the biggest producer of Ilocos white gold, asking the Department of Agriculture (DA) through Secretary Proceso Alcala to grant their request. Records from the Bureau of Agriculture Statistics show the Ilocos Norte is the top producer of garlic in the Philippines, contributing at least 69 percent or 6,284 metric tons (MT) of the national output in 2010 next to Occidental Mindoro with 22.03 percent or 2,012MT, Nueva Ecija, 3.55 percent or 324MT, Quezon 2.93 percent or 268MT and Ilocos Sur 2.68 percent or 245MT.

Pasuquin town has 620 hectares planted with garlic with an average yield of 2,282MT delivered in 2013, flowed by Vintar with 278 hectares or a yield of 889MT. Sarrat 133ha or 332MT, Burgos 114ha or 399MT and San Nicolas 110 ha or 297MT respectively.