Now paving the way for this is a government program that propagates and mass-produces sweet tamarind varieties for the benefit of places where this resilient fruit tree thrives.
"Zambales has been identified as ideal for tamarind planting because of its semi-arid lands although this crop can grow well in any type of soil and agri-climatic conditions," said the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR).
The Pampanga Agricultural College (PAC) in Magalang, Pampanga, and DA-BAR have been spearheading the program to develop the country’s fledgling tamarind industry.
Recently, farmers and agricultural technologists in Zambales underwent training in sweet tamarind production.
Behind the training was the PAC, in cooperation with DA-BAR, the office of Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Zambales Gov. Vicente Magsaysay, the provincial agricultural office and local government units.
PAC said tamarind has a huge market potential since the country imports the fruit to meet domestic demand. Moreover, the sweet types command higher prices than the sour varieties.
Over the past decade, the PAC, headed by its president, Dr. Zosimo Battad, has developed a tamarind variety which it claims is comparable to the Bangkok (Thailand) variety, which is known for its sweetness.
To be named Aglibut (after the late noted agricultural expert Prof. Andres Aglibut), the variety is about to be released by the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC).
The commercialization of the Aglibut variety forms part of a government research and development program that aims to promote the production of sweet tamarind, which is commercially processed into candy, juice and jam.
Leading the project are PAC and DA-BAR headed by director Nicomedes Eleazar. Also involved are LGUs, other DA agencies, the office of Sen. Magsaysay through its Young Farmers of the Philippines (YFP) program, and the stakeholders. Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban supports the program.
In the case of Central Luzon, for instance, providing technical and other forms of support are the DA Regional Field Unit 3 and the Central Luzon Integrated Agricultural Research Center.
The program began about a decade ago when Battad became PAC president.
During the program’s early stages, Dr. Sosimo Ma. Pablico said Spain’s Agencia Española de Cooperacion International and BAR provided funds for mass propagation and setting up of nurseries for sweet tamarind.
Recently, BAR gave P1.5 million for the commercialization of the Aglibut variety in Pampanga, Ilocos Norte and other provinces.