An indigenous community in the Northern Territory has teamed up with the nation's largest garlic producer to plant a commercial garlic crop in the middle of Australia. At the Alekarenge Horticultural farm, 350 kilometres north of Alice Springs, Alyawarr women Sabrina Kelly and Tisha Corbett are excited to see the project expanding. They have been involved in garlic trials over the past four years.
Farm manager Joe Clarke, an Arrernte man from Central Australia, said Centrefarm was established 15 years ago to provide training and employment opportunities for Indigenous people — with a focus on agriculture. "It's a pathway, a clear pathway, so we can work our way out of poverty and get meaningful employment," he said.
The crop has been made possible through the support of Australian Garlic Producers, which provided planting material and horticultural guidance for Centrefarm to grow the garlic. Chief executive Nick Diamantopoulos said the garlic variety originated from the central west of Africa.
Source: abc.net.au