Social factors influencing integration of horticultural trees and vegetables in the uplands: the case of Liliw, Laguna [Philippines]
2007
Wagan, A.M., Philippines Univ. Los Banos, College, Laguna (Philippines). Agricultural Systems Cluster - Farming Systems and Soil Resources Inst.
This research attempted to determine the factors that influence the way farmers manage their lands in order to explain the potential for wider acceptability of agrobiodiversity enhancement, where agricultural trees and crops are integrated, as management alternative for the uplands. Through a farmer survey, factors influencing farmers' choice of agricultural land use was done first, by determining farmers' own reasons for having vegetable monocrop or by maintaining integrated crop production. Second, personal traits, farm characteristics, farmer perceptions (on the effect of upland farming on the health of the farm workers and on the environment) were hypothesized as associated with farmers' choice of agricultural land use. This was analyzed using the Logit model analysis. Community leaders, women and older farmers were found associated with diversified production where trees and vegetables are integrated. Those with livelihood sources other than farming tend to be more involved with short-term intensive vegetable monocropping. Tenants who are restricted from planting permanent crops have no choice but to resort to vegetable monocropping. Land owners tend to maintain more permanent crops in their lands. Incidence of poisoning and awareness of natural resource degradation due to farming in the uplands do not deter farmers from engaging in intensive vegetable monocropping. Better land tenure arrangement with supportive local ordinances regarding integration of permanent crops into the production system in the uplands. It is advantageous if like the case of Liliw, Laguna there are tenants who are enthusiastic to plant trees even as borders. There is an apparent need to inform the upland farmers of the protective functions of integrating tree crops with annual crops. Farmer leaders and older farmers or those knowledgeable of the potential benefits of diversified production would play vital roles.
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