The producers of garlic are far from having the amount of hectares they had in times of success, as their production began to systematically decrease since 2008 and this vegetable disappeared from many fields. However, this trend seems to have changed this year. According to a survey conducted in the sector, after 7 consecutive years of decline producers have planted the same 800 hectares as last year.
It's been a drastic change, as producers had a total of 2,800 hectares in the 2006-2007 season and the current production amounts to nearly 29% of what they had. However, having planted the same amount of hectares as last year is a sign that things are starting to improve for garlic, this time thanks to the external market's demand.
The opportunity for garlic producers that has raised their expectations is the demand from a big buyer: "We've been have favoured because the US stopped buying garlic from China and it is demanding it from other markets, and at a good price," said Javier Garcia, president of the Association of Producers, Packers, and Exporters of Garlic and related products.
Producers keep an eye on the external market, even though last year garlic exports decreased by 36%, from 4,100,000 kilos in 2013 to 2,600,000 in 2014 according to the Chamber of Foreign Trade. "However, the demand has revived and the problem is that we have no products to send," lamented Garcia.
The number of hectares devoted to garlic stopped decreasing because producers have been working to get new buyers and keep the buyers they already. "At least we haven't had losses this year, we've maintained the same amount of hectares. Hopefully, this trend will change and next year we'll get to have the 3,000 hectares which we always had,'' added Garcia.
The garlic lost the privileged position it had for years in the San Juan because of two reasons: the shortage of water for irrigation of vegetables and the loss of competitiveness due to the increase in costs. These are the reasons that led producers to, little by little, replace their garlic crops for tomato crops. This is why there are only nearly 800 hectares devoted for garlic production, 200 of which are for the domestic market and 600 for export; i.e. 71% less than in the good times, stated Garcia.
The irrigation issue made many producers rethink things at the time of sowing, as in the case of Juan Mingorance, president of the Society of Temporary Farmers of San Juan, who was forced to reduce his land; "I had to leave a farm because there was no water, last year I had 2 hectares and this year I have only planted half a hectare because I get no water from the river and don't have a well," he said. The currency problem is reflected in the price; for example, a 10 kilos box now costs about $5 dollars more than in 2014. The increase varies according to quality, but in 2014 that box was sold for nearly $19 dollars and this year it can reach $34 dollars. "Garlic was very important for San Juan, but our economic situation caused it to lose stability. Before we had 25 warehouses for packing and exporting, at the moment I think there only are eight sheds," lamented Garcia
