Cluster Farming as a Vegetable Marketing Strategy: The Case of Smallholder Farmers in Southern and Northern Mindanao

Montiflor, Marilou O.

doi:10.17660/actahortic.2008.794.28

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Because of this, the country is experiencing great difficulty in achieving more production, particularly in the vegetable industry (Montiflor, 2007). Furthermore, environmental concerns have heightened in recent years due to the inappropriate use of modern farming techniques, deforestation and the cultivation of crops in marginal upland areas (Briones, n.d.).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Affecting Farmers' Adoption of Natural Farming Technologies in New Albay, Maragusan, Compostela Valley, Philippines

Lamban¹,

Cerna²,

Montiflor³

et al. 2011

Acta Hortic.

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In the Philippines, the sustainability of natural resources and the profitability of farming has become a major concern for smallholder farmers. To address these concerns, government agencies and the private sector are delivering workshops on natural farming technologies to farmers. Training includes the preparation of different concoctions such as indigenous micro-organisms (IMO), fermented fruit juice (FFJ) and fermented plant juice (FPJ), fish amino acid (FAA), oriental herbal juice (OHN) and calcium phosphate (Caphos). Other natural farm technologies include vermiculture. The products from the training are applied to the farmer's own farms with any surplus products sold to other farmers. In Maragusan, Compostela Valley, Philippines, a group of smallholder farmers have successfully produced organic fertilizers as a result of the training provided to them. Initially, while training was provided to the group to facilitate the marketing of the fresh vegetable crops they produced, the skills learnt were readily transferable. This study discusses the development of the New Albay cluster and factors leading to its decline as a marketing cluster. This study will also explore the costs and returns associated with the application of organic fertilizer to vegetable crops in comparison to conventional farming practices. Results show that the cost of production arising from the use of natural farming technologies is lower than conventional farming.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Affecting Farmers' Adoption of Natural Farming Technologies in New Albay, Maragusan, Compostela Valley, Philippines

Lamban¹,

Cerna²,

Montiflor³

et al. 2011

Acta Hortic.

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“…In Mindanao, the second biggest island in the Philippines, many smallholder farmers have engaged in cluster farming to collaboratively market their vegetable products (Axalan et al, 2010;Montiflor et al, 2010;Real et al, 2010;Lamban et al, 2010;Montiflor, Batt and Murray Prior, 2009;Montiflor, 2008;Montiflor, Batt and Murray-Prior, 2008;Concepcion, Digal and Uy, 2007;Mendoza, 2006;Uy, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the cluster, the farmers collectively plan their production and marketing activities. A study by Montiflor (2008) on three clusters in Mindanao identified the issues and challenges faced by smallholder farmer groups. These included the sustainability of financial support, the difficulty in sustaining active farmer members, encouraging farmers to cooperate once they were in the cluster, and the need for more farmer leaders.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leadership Perceptions in Collaborative Marketing Groups: Cases From the Southern Philippines

et al. 2013

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Numerous smallholder vegetable farmers in the Southern Philippines have been organized into clusters or collaborative marketing groups. The purpose of these clusters is to gain production, marketing and capacity building support, consolidate produce for higher value markets, deliver in bulk to save on transport and transaction costs, and to increase household income. One of the factors influencing the ability of the clusters to achieve these goals is leadership. Using the case study method, this study looks at the leadership traits of cluster leaders in Bukidnon, South Cotabato and Davao City. A total of 35 smallholder farmers from the three areas were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The research showed that the clusters have trusted leaders. The members have high regard towards their leaders. Their definition of an ideal leader fits the description of their current leaders. The members also trust their leaders to represent them in transactions and meetings.

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“…In Mindanao, there are several vegetable farmer groups that engage in clustering to market their products (Mendoza, 2006;Montiflor, 2007;Montiflor, Batt and MurrayPrior, 2009). These include the Maragusan Vegetable Farmer's Cluster, Northern Mindanao Vegetable Producers Association Inc. and the Vegetable Industry Council of Southern Mindanao Inc.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A study of three clusters in Mindanao by Montiflor (2007) identified issues and challenges faced by farmer groups. These include the sustainability of financial support, the difficulty in sustaining active farmer members, encouraging farmers to cooperate once they are in a cluster, and the need for more farmer leaders.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Connections and Smallholder Vegetable Farmers' Collaborative Marketing Strategy: The Case of the Small Farmers Association of Quirogpang in Davao City, the Philippines

Montiflor¹,

Cerna²,

Lamban³

et al. 2011

Acta Hortic.

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In the Philippines, vegetable farmers generally have only small land holdings. Because of this, plus an apparent lack of financial capital, it is difficult for smallholder farmers to meet the large volume demands imposed by institutional buyers and wholesalers. The small volume and the large variation in quality puts smallholder farmers at a significant disadvantage when it comes to arranging transport and marketing. However, smallholder farmers can engage in collaborative cluster farming in order to meet the demands of the market and to bolster production volume. In the cluster, the farmers carry out production planning and marketing activities collectively. Utilizing the case study method and the 8-step clustering approach formulated by the Catholic Relief Services, this paper will present key success factors and several challenges faced by the Small Farmers Association of Quirogpang (SFAQ) in Marilog, Davao City, Philippines. At the same time, it will identify important institutional supports and strategies that may enhance the success of this and other clusters. The paper highlights key success factors such as the social connections shared by the cluster members and leadership. In this case, these commonalities exist because it is an area-based cluster which includes neighbours and relatives who all practice one religion and speak the same language or dialect.

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Cluster Farming as a Vegetable Marketing Strategy: The Case of Smallholder Farmers in Southern and Northern Mindanao

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

Factors Affecting Farmers' Adoption of Natural Farming Technologies in New Albay, Maragusan, Compostela Valley, Philippines

Factors Affecting Farmers' Adoption of Natural Farming Technologies in New Albay, Maragusan, Compostela Valley, Philippines

Leadership Perceptions in Collaborative Marketing Groups: Cases From the Southern Philippines

Social Connections and Smallholder Vegetable Farmers' Collaborative Marketing Strategy: The Case of the Small Farmers Association of Quirogpang in Davao City, the Philippines

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