The Japanese government is extending assistance to help Ilocos Norte improve its black garlic production. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will fund a “business verification survey” for the value chain of black garlic in the region, which will be implemented by the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) and Japanese firm Takara Inc.
Once formalized, MSSU President Shirley Castañeda said the project would run for three years: “By the third year, we shall be able to adapt the technology of Japan for the black garlic production and we shall be able to improve the agricultural production processes in the Philippines. Hopefully we could grow the garlic bulbs bigger.”
Citing data from Takara, Castañeda said black garlic could sell three to four times higher than regular garlic.
Source: pna.gov.ph