Ariendo practice as an entry point for extension education among citrus growers in three municipalities in Oriental Mindoro [Philippines].

The results showed that ariendo was introduced to the province in the late 60's and early 70's by Batanguenos from Tanauan [Batangas, Philippines]. The ariendo practice had undergone changes during the past thirty years. There was no hard and fast rule in the implementation of the ariendo. The contents of the contract dependent upon the result of the procedure and upon the bargaining process, the result of the latter being largely determined by the more active and influential party. There were resources needed in ariendo which must be sufficient and available as: working capital, transportation facilities, availability of labor and bodega. The skills required of a maga-ariendo are: ability to appraise citrus farms, ability to plan farm work, proper application of citrus technology and farm management ability. A magaariendo must have a word of honor, can associate with people, has foresight and resourcefulness, experienced in the contract system, a risk-taker and must be well-informed about market outlets. As perceived by the respondents, ariendo improved their socio-economic status at the individual, family and community levels. Considering very carefully benefits and disadvantages pointed by the respondents, more benefits seemed to accrue the magaariendo. The amount of ariendo was positively correlated with size of farm, area planted to citrus, distance of farm from road, duration of contract and family gross income. The degree of correlation ranged from very low to moderate. Negative relationship was observed with age of trees and fruit-bearing period. The above variables contributed 53.09 percent of the variation on the amount of ariendo. The ariendo needs direction in terms of local policies to protect the rights and interests of the parties concerned.