India's garlic production

India's garlic production steadily increasingIndia has become one of the biggest exporters of garlic worldwide. The domestic production is good and production from China, who have always been famous for their garlic production, is week. Indian garlic are now exported even to Pakistan, Thailand and Malaysia, as well as the traditional market of Bangladesh.According to Spices Board figures, garlic exports increased during the last fiscal by 1314 % in volume terms and 769% in value terms. In the current financial year, exports have maintained the growth trend with nearly 5,425 tonne exported in April alone, an increase of 6,282 % over the same period last year.In the past India imported 15,000-20,000 tonne of garlic from China. China is the worlds biggest producer with 60-65%.“China is the market-maker in garlic. According to reports, the last Chinese crop was a complete failure compelling countries like Malaysia and Indonesia to procure from India ,” Kanubhai Mehta, a prominent garlic trader from Mumbai told FE. Spices Board estimates garlic production in 2009-10 to touch 850,000 tonne.The average price for garlic has moved up by 50% to touch Rs 51 per kg .Currently, garlic is selling in the range of Rs 51-75 per kg ( Rs 75 for the premium variety) as against Rs 35-45 per kg during the same period last year. Indian garlic production is expensive due to low productivity, poor genotypes, and high cost of farming. In India, garlic is mainly cultivated during the winter season.