Impact assessment of onion production in Nueva Ecija
2004
Sabacan-Villanueva, M.T.L., Agricultural Training Institute (ATI)
This study was conducted to determine the environmental impacts of onion farming practices in selected places in Nueva Ecija. A survey questionnaire was distributed to 332 onion growers of Nueva Ecija to draw their farming practices as basis for evaluation its impact on the agroecosystem. Data on socio-economic characteristics showed that Nueva Ecija farmers are matured, have high educational attainment, experienced, and well informed. Their level of awareness of environment friendly and sustainable practices was high in soil fertility (4.04), water (4.17) and cultural and pest management (4.18). The onion farms are dominated by mutha (Cyperus rotundus) with varied species of natural enemies and predators, and weeds. However, these were rated as few. This high level of environment-friendly and sustainable practices adopted. The farmers were highly dependent on commercial inputs. Their farming practices were characterized by use of herbicide (75.90%), rice hull burning (37.34%), and mulching (67.58%) to control the weeds. Also, commercially available seeds and inorganic fertilizers were used by 62.35 percent and 87.04 percent of the onion growers, respectively. Their level of awareness was found significantly related to age, educational attainment,area of onion farm, position of cooperatives and other source of income. In general, onion production practices produce moderate damage to the environment. Sources of moderate damage to the environment were pollution from solid wastes, toxic chemical from pesticides, rice hull burning, fires from land clearing soil erosion floods and drought.
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