DA reports shortage in supply of local garlic

Amid the ongoing onion crisis in the country, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has now reported a shortage in the supply of local garlic—with some markets currently only able to sell imports.

According to Bernadette Reyes' report on "24 Oras" on Tuesday, vendors in the town market of Mangaldan, Pangasinan have not been able to sell local garlic for several months due to limited supply.

“Walang nagtanim, mag-isang taon na. Dati mayroon, ngayon wala na talaga,” said vendor Amy Torres.

According to DA-Region 1, there is only a small supply of local garlic left in the country, and the stock of garlic in cold storage facilities will not be enough to fill the domestic requirement.

“Kung may problema sa supply dahil malaki ang demand, talagang ang takbuhan natin is importation,” said DA-Region 1 Information Officer Vida Cacal.

In Metro Manila, the DA's monitoring did not find any local garlic for sale in the major markets, only imported garlic, which can be bought at P90 to P140 per kilo—cheaper than the local harvest which goes for P260 to P300 a kilo.

“Doon po tayo sa nakakatipid...kung ano po 'yung mura, doon po tayo,” said carinderia owner Zephora Ventura.

“Hindi po mabili yung native na bawang kasi malayo ang difference sa imported na bawang,” said vendor Nora Canapi.

Meanwhile, at the Kadiwa Store on Elliptical Road in Quezon City, imported garlic costs P80 per kilo. Still, none of the vendors sells native garlic.

“Yung last na paluwas natin mga November naubos na, hihintay namin next na harvest mga February or March po, makakapag paluwas po,” said Lot Dagui of Progressive Farmers of Zambales. — Sherylin Untalan/BM, GMA Integrated News