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

Abstract

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.

Enhancing Smallholder Resilience: Organic Transition, Place-based Knowledge, and Local Resource Generation

“…Organic rice systems contain higher crop, farm, and landscape diversity, which serves to enhance adaptive capacity; employ more land-and soilimprovement measures that increase mitigation potential; and are governed by household and community mechanisms that serve to reduce vulnerability (Heckelman et al, 2018). This finding is consistent with Philippines-based research indicating that organic systems outperform their conventional counterparts due to yielding similar or sometimes higher production levels (Bachmann et al, 2009;Broad & Cavanagh, 2012;Icamina, 2011;Mendoza, 2005Mendoza, , 2016 and being more profitable due to lower production costs and higher returns (Bachmann et al, 2009;Lamban et al 2011;Mendoza, 2004;Pantoja, Badayos, & Agnes, 2016;Rubinos, Jalipa, & Bacaya, 2007). It is also consistent with systematic reviews of comparative research on organic and conventional systems across the globe that suggest the former often performs better under adverse environmental conditions (see Badgley et al, 2007;Seufert, Ramankutty, & Foley, 2012), as well as exhibits greater adaptation and mitigation capacities (see Fließbach Oberholzer, Gunst, & Mäder, 2007;Harvey et al, 2013;Rodale Institute, 2014).…”

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

“…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).…”