Sweet tamarind project gains momentum

A sweet tamarind variety is in the pipeline.

About to be released by the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC), it has been named Aglibut after the late Prof. Andres Aglibut, a noted irrigation expert.

Aglibut had served in various capacities in several SCUs, among them the UP Los Baños College of Agriculture (as director of business affairs), Pampanga Agricultural College, and Mountain State Agricultural College (MSAC, now Benguet State University or BSU).

The commercialization of the Aglibut variety form part of an R&D project that aims to promote the production of tamarind, which is oft-ignored but whose fruits are processed into candy, jam, and juice.

The project is a joint undertaking of PAC headed by Dr. Zosimo M. Battad, DA-BAR, and local government units, among them the Magalang LGU.

Also supporting it is the office of Sen. Ramon B. Magsaysay Jr., chairman of the Senate committee on agriculture, through its Young Farmers Program.

DA-BAR has given P 1.5 million to PAC for the commercialization of the Aglibut variety in Pampanga and other provinces such as Ilocos Norte.

Likewise, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has earmarked P 1.5 million to hasten the variety’s commercialization.

Magsaysay has also committed funds for the fencing of the tamarind scion grove of PAC at the foot of storied Mt. Arayat.

A technology bulletin on sweet tamarind has been prepared by PAC. – RAF