Community-Based Participatory Action Research (CPAR) and development program on vegetable-based areas in Region 10 [Philippines]

The global change on agricultural perception affects the vegetable industry in the country. Hence, the Department of Agriculture is broadly looking for whatever farming and marketing strategies that may improve the productivity, profitability of vegetable crops generally to strengthen and sustain the vegetable production in potential areas in the region. Specifically, it aimed to develop location-specific technologies for commercial vegetable production; empower the farmers, and determine the sustainability of production in the areas. Community-based Participatory Action Research (CPAR) was adopted and conducted in four sites. Participatory Rural Appraisal tools were used. Variety and adaptability trials on vegetables were conducted to identify location-specific technologies, essential for subsequent commercial vegetable production in the areas as development projects. Social, moral and technical preparation of the community was made thru continual conduct of relevant trainings. Twenty-five trainings were conducted and had empowered the farmers for high value vegetable crop production in the project sites. Generated location specific technologies such as the identified high yielding, adaptable and market preferred high value vegetable crop varieties of lettuce cabbage, carrot, broccoli, cauliflower, bell pepper, tomato, eggplant and other crops were commercially produced in the sites. Sustainable vegetable production was perceived with increased number of vegetable crops grown, increased number of growers and area planted to vegetables in Kaulayanan, and Mambajao sites, generated jobs, attracted investors, NGO and GOs' support in Kulayanan and greatly farmer cooperators in Mambajao were notably profitable and supplied the local demand of Camiguin province. Short implementation period considerably affected the project sustainability in Mansawan and Culpan sites. However, location specific technologies should be extensively commercialized with more financial, marketing support of investors and LGU and continuous technical assistance.