Garlic Global Farming, Nutrition, Yield, Cost & Profit (USD Only)

1. INTRODUCTION (GLOBAL OVERVIEW)

Garlic (Allium sativum) is one of the most ancient, powerful, and commercially valuable vegetables in the world. Cultivated in more than 120+ countries, garlic is a premium high-value crop used in:

Culinary industries

Medicine

Nutraceuticals

Pickles, sauces, chutneys

Dehydrated & processed garlic

Export markets (fresh + dried + powder)

Garlic has extremely strong market demand worldwide due to its rich medicinal value, high flavor profile, long shelf life, and continuous consumption in households, restaurants, hotels, and food processing factories.

It is among the top 3 most profitable vegetables in the world because of:

High market price

Long storage time

Huge export demand

Low water requirement

Best for small + big farmers

Garlic is a guaranteed profit crop for global farmers.

2. BOTANICAL DETAILS

Scientific Name: Allium sativum

Family: Amaryllidaceae

Plant Type: Cool-season bulb vegetable

Origin: Central Asia & Mediterranean

Pollination: Vegetative (cloves are used as seeds)

Edible Part: Bulb

Chromosome: 2n = 16

3. NUTRITION PROFILE (per 100 g fresh garlic)

NutrientAmountBenefitCalories149 kcalHigh energyProtein6.4 gHigh for vegetablesCarbohydrates33 gEnergy sourceFiber2.1 gDigestionVitamin C31 mgImmunityCalcium181 mgBonesIron1.7 mgRBC supportPotassium401 mgHeart healthAllicinHighAnti-bacterial, anti-viral

Garlic is one of the strongest natural antibiotics in the world.

4. GLOBAL CULINARY USES

Curries, soups, stir-fries

Sauces, chutneys, pickles

Garlic bread, pizza toppings

Chinese, Thai, Korean cuisine

Garlic powder, flakes, paste

Hotel, fast-food, restaurant chains

USA, Europe, Middle East, India, and China have the highest consumption.

5. SEED REQUIREMENT (CLOVES)

Per Acre

180–220 kg cloves

Per Hectare

450–600 kg cloves

Best seed garlic comes from China, India, Spain, Egypt.

6. SOIL REQUIREMENT

Sandy-loam soil

pH 6.0–7.5

High organic matter

Deep, well-drained

Soil rich in sulfur improves flavor

7. CLIMATE REQUIREMENT (COUNTRY-WISE)

India

Cool + dry climate
Best season: October–December

China

World’s largest garlic producer
Grows in cool spring & winter

USA

California is main garlic zone

Europe

Spain, Italy, France – mild winters, cool springs

Middle East

Grown in winter with irrigation

Garlic does not tolerate heavy frost or extreme heat during bulb formation.

8. IRRIGATION SCHEDULE

First irrigation after sowing

Next irrigation after 7 days

Then every 10–12 days

Reduce irrigation during bulb formation

Stop irrigation 10–15 days before harvest

Drip irrigation improves yield by 30–40%.

9. FERTILIZER SCHEDULE (GLOBAL STANDARD)

Basal Dose

FYM: 20 tons/ha

NPK: 80:40:60 kg/ha

Top Dressing

Nitrogen in 2–3 splits

Sulfur 25–30 kg/ha essential

Micronutrients: Zinc, Boron, Magnesium

Organic

Compost

Bone meal

Neem cake

Seaweed extract

10. PESTS & DISEASES

Pests

Thrips

Onion maggot

Nematodes

Diseases

Purple blotch

Stemphylium blight

White rot

Remedies

Neem oil

BT sprays

Copper fungicide

Crop rotation

Sulphur dusting

11. CROP DURATION (WORLDWIDE)

India: 140–160 days

China: 120–150 days

USA: 180 days

Europe: 150–180 days

12. GLOBAL YIELD DATA

Open field: 8–12 tons/ha

Hybrid varieties: 12–18 tons/ha

High-tech farming: 20+ tons/ha

13. COST OF CULTIVATION (USD ONLY)

ExpenseUSD per hectareSeed garlic$1,000Land prep$150Fertilizers$250Irrigation$120Labor$350Pesticides$130Mulching$200Harvesting + Packing$180Transport$90Miscellaneous$120Total Cost$2,590

Garlic has one of the highest seed costs, but gives huge returns.

14. GLOBAL PROFIT (USD ONLY)

Average Market Price

$1.5–3 per kg (fresh)

$4–8 per kg (dry high grade)

$10–20 per kg (powder/flakes export)

Example — Fresh Garlic Profit

Yield = 12,000 kg
Price = $2/kg

Revenue = $24,000
Profit = 24,000 – 2,590 = $21,410 per hectare

Example — Dry Garlic Profit

Yield dry equivalent = 4,000 kg
Price = $6/kg

Revenue = $24,000
Profit = 24,000 – 2,590 = $21,410

Example — Garlic Powder Export Profit

Yield = 1,000 kg powder
Price = $15/kg

Revenue = $15,000
Profit = 15,000 – 2,590 = $12,410

Garlic gives 10–20× return depending on market.

15. POST-HARVEST TECHNOLOGY

Drying in shade for 10–12 days

Remove roots & outer skin

Sort by bulb size

Store at 0–2°C

Shelf life: 6–7 months in cold storage

16. GLOBAL EXPORT MARKET

Top Exporters

China

India

Spain

Egypt

Argentina

Top Importers

USA

Brazil

UAE

Saudi Arabia

UK

Japan

Garlic has one of the strongest export markets in the world.

17. LOANS & INSURANCE

Loans

Crop production loans

Farm equipment loans

Cold storage loans

Drip irrigation loans

Insurance Covers

Pest attacks

Diseases

Drought

Excess rain

Market price crash

18. FAQ (15 QUESTIONS + GLOBAL ANSWERS)

1. How much seed garlic is needed per hectare?
450–600 kg.

2. What is garlic’s ideal climate?
Cool, dry climate; 12–25°C.

3. Is garlic profitable?
Yes, $15,000–$25,000 profit per hectare.

4. Can garlic grow in hot climate?
Only in winter or controlled farming.

5. Which fertilizers work best?
NPK + Sulfur + Zinc.

6. What is the maturity period?
120–180 days depending on region.

7. What are major pests?
Thrips and onion maggots.

8. Which country produces the most garlic?
China.

9. Which countries import garlic most?
USA, UAE, Brazil.

10. What is garlic export price?
$4–20 per kg depending on form.

11. Which variety is best?
G-282, G-1, Spanish Roja, California Early.

12. Can garlic be grown organically?
Yes, very successfully.

13. What irrigation method is best?
Drip.

14. What is garlic shelf life?
6–7 months in cold storage.

15. How to sell garlic at high price?
Grade, dry properly, target export, hotel supply.

19. CONCLUSION

Garlic is a world-class high-income crop suitable for all types of farmers. It has strong global demand, powerful nutritional and medicinal properties, and excellent export opportunities. With proper seed selection, climate management, fertilizer schedule, and post-harvest handling, farmers can earn 10–20 times profit consistently.

Garlic remains one of the safest, most profitable, and most stable vegetables in global agriculture.

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