Pakistan in disarray as G1 garlic variety bubble has burst

G1 Garlic is currently auctioned at vegetable markets in several cities in Pakistan for €0.57 per kilogram. A year ago, the same variety was sold for €125.62 (!) per kilogram and people bought it expecting high yields. In fact it was a bubble and it has now burst. G1 Garlic was one of the latest garlic varieties introduced by the National Agriculture Research Center in 2019 and was hailed as a next-generation alternative to reduce Pakistan's dependence on garlic imports. But almost immediately it turned into a quick way to make money for investors both large and small, and what was introduced by the government for €2.85 per kilogram was at one point sold for €125.62 per kilogram. According to the International Trade Center, Pakistan imported nearly $53 million worth of fresh and chilled garlic in 2022. While that may seem insignificant compared to Pakistan's massive $7.2 billion food import bill, this variety still received attention from both the public and private sectors. ...