Static productivity, poor post-harvest technology pound garlic

Garlic is grown in the world over 12.25 lakh hectares (lh) with 156.85 lakh tonnes (lt) production which translates into 12.80 tonnes/hectare productivity. India is one of the largest producers of spices in the world and leads the production table in many spices including garlic. Garlic was grown in India in 2007-08, over 1.69 lh with 8.3 lt production.

China is the world leader in production (120.88 lt) contributing to 77.07 per cent of world tonnage followed by India at 5.29 per cent (8.3 lt), S.Korea at 2.08 per cent (3.27 lt) and Russia at 3.98 per cent (2.54 lt). India is the second largest producer of garlic in world.

Although, India is second in area and production of garlic in the world, the productivity per hectare is very low as compared to China, the US and other western countries where the crop is grown commercially. Further, over the years, productivity has remained almost static.

Varietal development and technology improvement in production seems to have not contributed much. Crop losses due to high incidence of diseases and pests, poor post-harvest handling practices and storage conditions, sub-standard input management, and volatile market situations are the main impediments in increasing productivity.

The countries with high productivity grow long day type garlic whereas India grows tropical type garlic, which matures in 130 days in short winter.

Exports

Total export of garlic from India in 2009-10 has been estimated at 10,750 tonnes (Rs 3,042 lakh in value). On a year-on-year basis this translates to a jump of 1414 per cent in quantity terms and 869 per cent in value terms thereby turning India from a net importer to a major exporter in the global trade of garlic.

In terms of value, the US is major importer contributing 31 per cent and Pakistan in terms of quantity contributing 22.72 per cent of total exports from India. Other major importing countries include Bangladesh, Malaysia and Nepal.

Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra are the main States where garlic is grown commercially at an average yield of 4.535 tonnes/ha.

Gujarat is the leading garlic producing State with production of 2.28 lakh tonnes (‘08-‘09) accounting 26 per cent of total production and yield of 6.89 tonne/ha. Uttar Pradesh ranks second with production of 1.89 lt followed by Madhya Pradesh (1.67 lt). Punjab is the State with the highest yield at 14.73 tonne/ha. Karnataka, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh also produce a sizeable quantity of garlic in cooler regions of the States.

Garlic in plains is grown from October-March. Making available ample quantity of seed at reasonable rates vis-a-vis creation of facilities for long-term cold storage of garlic seed bulbs is one area of critical importance.

Cold storage of garlic with back up of irradiation for suppression of sprouts in strategic production areas would help in reduction of post-harvest losses remarkably.

Processing industry

Processing industries are emerging at a faster rate and would demand more raw materials in future.

Considering these requirements and post-harvest losses, the production level of garlic in the year 2025 has been extrapolated by NRCOG to be 10 lt.

Demand for garlic is seen increasing rapidly with the higher sales of branded food pickles and curry products. It is also widely used for producing herbal products pastes and medicines. Garlic is used for flavouring various dishes and is also used as an important ingredient in Ayurvedic medicines.

Expansion of processing industry will demand production of more garlic. It is mainly used for preparing chutneys, pickles, dips and curry powder, sauces or ketchups. The raw garlic is used in making of garlic powder, garlic salt, garlic vinegar, and garlic bread etc. providing strong base for processing industry.

Value addition through processing of the bulbs in the form of dehydrated flakes, dehydrated powder, paste, etc will be instrumental in substantially expanding the export basket of garlic and its derivative products

Nutritional quality and flavouring component wise Indian garlic is much better and as a result there is better demand in ethnic markets in Singapore, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Philippines and UK.

There is critical gap in supply in Europe from February to June where as India has ample production during these months. European market being stringent, lot of market-oriented research would be needed in production, grading, packing and shipment.

Systematic export promotion can develop niche of 4-5 lt additionally. Contract production, packing and forwarding can create export market to the tune of 1lt.

Currently, India's share in the world garlic production stands at a meagre 4.1 per cent, but expanding domestic market provides a great opportunity to increase this share.

There is vast scope for increasing the productivity by enhancing genetic potential of varieties through resistance breeding, bringing innovations in agro-techniques, sustenance of productivity through better management of diseases and pests and improving post-harvest life.

Source: YES Bank

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