Benchmark assessment on the Industrial Tree Plantation (ITP) production and marketing practices in Caraga [Philippines]

The authors determined the status of the tree farming industry in the Caraga Region (Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, and Surigao del Sur). Findings showed that tree farmers in the region were generally Bol-anons and Roman Catholics. They were middle-aged and self-employed earning P4,000 or lower per month. They have finished secondary education. Their households were medium-sized and houses were mostly semiconcrete with deep well as their source of drinking water. Tree farmers' attendance in training and demonstrations on tree farming technologies conducted by DENR [Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources] and some NGOs [Non-government organizations] was relatively poor. Nonetheless, those who attended perceived the quality of the training and demonstrations as satisfactory and very satisfactory, respectively. In terms of technology adoption, tree farmers have poor adoption of the recommended technologies particularly those that concern seed care. Pruning, weeding, and liberation cutting, which are basic operations in tree farming, were irregularly conducted. Moreover, tree farmers had positive attitude and perception towards the ITP industry. They perceived tree planting as widespread and successful in Caraga and anybody could go into it regardless of economic status. More than half of the tree farmers had a farming experience of 6-10 years and were full owners of the lands being planted with industrial tree plantation species (ITPS). Their ITP farms were between 1-5 ha; located mostly in rolling or gently undulating terrain. Falcata (Paraserianthes falcataria) was the most planted species or mixed or polyculture system was the most common farming system adopted. Farmers usually planted seedlings/wildlings 1-3 months without standard spacing. Brushing was the most common site preparation method used. Only very few individuals applied fertilizer in their farms. Weeding was regularly done. A few farmers practiced pest identification, monitoring, and control. Chainsaws were commonly used in harvesting of trees. Almost half of the farmers harvested trees at 7-10 years. Carabaos were used to transport logs to the buying or pick stations. Manual loading into the waiting hauling trucks followed. Mostly farmers sold newly cut logs. Middlemen, who were largely the price setter, were the common buyers. Farmers can earn between P1,000-4,000 per harvest. Family labor was the most common type of labor employed, except in dispatching of planting stocks, transport of logs, and field planting. Roads linking tree farmers to other stakeholders were poor or bad. Formal lending institutions were the common sources of credit. However, farmers preferred private institutions. The farmer's top three problems encountered were low pricing of logs, financing/capital, and poor road conditions. It is recommended that a multisectoral consultation and collaboration be made with the presence of key government officials in the region to discuss the concerns of ITP farmers and to formulate appropriate solutions