Impact evaluation of the Laguna [Philippines] integrated agricultural development project in two pilot villages.

Thirty households in Solongbato and 40 households in Talangka, located in the towns of Famy and Sta. Maria [Laguna, Philippines], respectively, were studied to obtain a wide ranging view of economic, socio-cultural, physical and political changes brought about by the project among the beneficiaries and target communities. Participation in the project enabled the beneficiaries to engage in secondary economic activities like livestock raising. Growth in real income, however, was only 22 percent in Talangka and 12 percent in Solongbato. Z-tests of means indicated that in both study areas, the average household income before was significantly different from the household income after the respondent's participation in the project. Eighty percent of the respondents in Talangka observed that the project did not stimulate as much economic activities in their villages as they were expecting. The project had some positive effects on the level of living, aspirations and attitudes of the respondents. The sample households in Talangka, however, owned more consumer durables than their counterparts in Solongbato. The project was not able to alter the land use pattern in the study areas since most of the projects introduced were non-land based. The respondents' attitude towards the project was generally positive. They acknowledged the technical assistance extended to them by the DA [Department of Agriculture] technicians. They also gained knowledge on organization building and leadership through their attendance in seminar and workshops sponsored by the project. These increased their participation and involvement in community activities. The physical condition of the study areas had not remarkably improved except for newly renovated houses made possible through the respondents' participation in the project, infrastructure facilities like roads, transportation and market facilities in both villages were inadequate to support agricultural development.