Farmers' participation and their institutional arrangement in the agricultural R and D management system in calamity-prone areas in Leyte Island, Philippines

It is necessary to transform agricultural development in response to the need for food security, food safety, and poverty alleviation, particularly in regions beset by natural disasters. Often, local farmers in affected areas bear the impact of such calamities on their farms and income. Their active participation and institutional arrangements in local agricultural development affairs become indispensable, particularly in the arrangement of local agricultural development affairs become indispensable, particularly in the management of local agricultural research and development (AR and D) interventions. However, the recognition and examination of this aspect, especially in affected local agricultural communities, have been neglected. This study addresses this gap by investigating selected areas in Leyte Island, Philippines, aiming to assess whether farmers' actively participation and institutional arrangements should be considered in the functionality of their local management system of agricultural research and development. The study employed various data collection methods, including researcher observation, key informant interviews; focus group discussions, and survey. Thematic analysis was applied to qualitative data, while quantitative data underwent normality tests, Spearman's rank-order correlation and multiple regression analysis for evaluating associations between institutional arrangements and other variables. The study's findings revealed a state-led agricultural R and D management system was post-calamity focused research project graining more priority. Notably, there was nominal participation of farmers in the AR and D management systems, as reported by all the key informant interview (KII) and focus group discussion (FGD) participants and farmer respondents. Despite its minimal nature, all participants were convinced that if they get involved and actively participate and their relevant institutional arrangements are considered, they could contribute to a better ARD management process thereby boosting and strengthening their self- confidence in playing a pivotal role as an integral subsystem in the overall AR and D management system. Consequently, the study recommends a transformative-regenerative structural and management change process, not only at the farmers' level but also within the local government unit's agriculture office.