Technology that can help produce garlic with bigger bulbs has been developed by government researchers in Batac, Ilocos Norte.

It involves the application of gibberellic acid (GA3), a hormone that promotes plant growth and development.

This was achieved by a research team of the Department of Agriculture-regional field unit 1 regional station 2 (DA-RFU 1-ROS 2) based at the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Batac.

Wilhelmina P. Castañeda, a researcher of DA-RFU 1-ROS 2, discussed the technology at the Agriculture and Fisheries Technology forum organized recently by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR).

During the forum, BAR director Nicomedes P. Eleazar formally launched the DA-BAR-crafted National Technology Commercialization Program (NTCP) to expedite the utilization of mature technologies in farmers' fields to augment the farmers' and fisher-folk's income and transform agriculture and fisheries into a marketdriven sector.

Mature technologies are innovations that have been assessed as suitable to the needs of farmers and fisherfolk and ready for adoption.

In her presentation, Ms. Castañeda said that the application of gibberellic acid increases the yield of garlic by 56%, resulting in a 66% rise in net income per hectare.

The DA-BAR-supported research project on garlic had the DA-Ilocos Integrated Agricultural Research Center (ILIARC) and DA-RPU 1-ROS 2 as implementing agencies. The collaborating agencies are the local government units (LGUs) of the Ilocos Norte towns of Batac, Pasuquin, and Pinili and the Ilocos Sur town of Sinait, and Crop King Chemicals, a private company.

Garlic, considered as the "white gold of Ilocandia," is the most profitable dry season crop in Region 1. "Our very own garlic has the best aroma and pungency the world over," claimed DA-ROS 2.

However, it admitted, the bulb is too small to make it globally competitive owing to the cultivar used and soil nutrient depletion brought about by intensive use of the land for agriculture purposes.

"Unless recondition is done to revive the soil's fertility, agricultural productivity continues to decline," the group said. The potential alternative, said Ms. Castañeda in her report at the technology forum, is the application of gibberellic acid.

The DA has developed a package of technology (POT) on how to make the hormone do wonders on garlic plants during crop establishment. The POT's specifics can be acquired from DA-RFU 1-ROS 2 at the MMSU complex in Batac. -- DA-BAR News