Enhanced livelihood of sweet potato farmers in Tarlac and Bataan [Philippines] through the adoption of clean planting materials

Tablarin et al. (TCA and CLSU) evaluated the socioeconomic contribution of SP CPM to farmers' livelihood in Tarlac and Bataan in 2003. The study team assessed the production, distribution, and utilization of SP CPM [sweet potato clean planting material] among 117 farmer adopters of the technology in the two provinces. Findings of the study revealed the following: Farmers' knowledge and adoption of SP CPM technology was enhanced through field experiments and technical, marketing and financial support from the LGUs and DA in Tarlac and Bataan. The adoption of the technology increased the production and income of SP farmers in the two provinces. The farmers were also encouraged to expand their areas and utilize idle land for the production of both SP CPM cuttings as planting materials as wells as roots for food. The farmer adopters produced 10.7 M SP CPM cuttings valued at about P1.56 M from their 60 ha nurseries and multiplication farms. The yield of SP CPM cuttings averaged 377 bundles or 150,679 cuttings/ha sold at Php 0.145 (average price) per cutting. The farmers also planted SP CPM on 415 ha for root production which produced 4.25 Mt valued at Php 19.96 M. The increased production and income enabled the farmer producers to adequately cover their expenses for household needs; house improvement; education of their children; acquisition of land, farm machineries, and vehicles; payment of credit. The SP CPM technology generated greater involvement of LGUs and DA in terms of providing financial assistance including sourcing of inputs and marketing assistance to farmer producers. The technology increased employment through the expansion of SP CPM production and utilization. Tarlac and Bataan remained as the main supplier of SP CPM planting materials in Central Luzon. Some cooperatives as well as individual farmers maintained net houses and multiplication farms to ensure supply of SP CPM. Some constraints such as limited SP CPM supply to meet increasing demand; increasing costs of production; absence of production and distribution system; and traders' monopoly are considered threats to the SP CPM production in Tarlac and Bataan. A research agenda addressing these constraints is needed to improve the contributions of CPM technology to farmers' livelihood.