Japanese officials are visiting Ilocos Norte on the Philippines, intent on revitalizing the garlic industry there.
Led by Harumi Yamamoto, mayor of Takko in Japan, the consultative dialogue aims to strengthen agricultural cooperation, particularly on improving garlic production. This was said in a statement by Edwin Cariño, head of the Sustainable and Development Office under the Ilocos Norte government, on Wednesday.
All provincial leaders, Mariano Marcos State University officials, local chief executives from the five major garlic producing towns of the province and technical staff of agriculture will be part of the dialogue.
Japan-based Takara Inc. team, along with the Mariano Marcos State University and Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, has agreed to cooperate in enhancing garlic technology by deploying some agriculture students and farmers to deepen their understanding and technical know-how to grow bigger garlic and explore its numerous potentials in the international market.
The Japan delegates challenged local farmers to grow bigger sizes of garlic with the right application of technology and cultivation practices. To strengthen friendly relations with the Philippines, the Japanese officials will visit the province again for the implementation of a collaborative research and development project in Ilocos soil.
