Sustainability evaluation of diversified model farms of the "redireksiyon" program of the local government of Santiago City, Philippines

Date

2000

Abstract

The sustainability of the high value crops farming system of the diversified model farms established by the Local Government Unit and the existing monocrop rice, monocrop corn and rice + tilapia farming systems in Santiago City were evaluated using the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis. The effects of economic, ecological, technological, socio-cultural, institutional and political viabilities on SWOT index of farming systems sustainability were assumed to be equal.The SWOT index of farming systems sustainability were assessed using two approaches : 1) analysis of strengths and weaknesses alone, and 2) analysis of strengths, oppportunities, weaknesses and threats.The rice + tilapia and the high value crops farming systems were consistently the most and the least sustainable, respectively, in both approaches. The sustainability index of the monocrop corn was higher than that of the monocrop rice farming system. The index of ecological viability of high value crops farming system was higher than that of the monocrop rice farming system. The index of economic viability of monocrop rice, monocrop corn and high value crops farming systems and the index of institutional viability of rice + tilapia farming system increased when their opportunities and threats were considered. This overall SWOT indices of sustainability of all the farming systems slightly increased when the opportunities and threats were included. In both approaches, the ranking of the farming sytems sustainability did not change.The strategies needed to enhance the sustainability of the diversified model farms are : a) monitoring of prices and volume of high value vegetables at the Santiago City market to proper production timing, b) integrated pest management to reduce pesticide application and soil fertility assessment using soil test kit )STK) for proper fertilizer application, and c) on-farm trials on local

44 seed production of some high value vegetables.A semi-quantitative assessment of SWOT index of sustainability needs to be developed to facilitate farming systems development planning and management.

Document Type

Master Thesis

Degree

Master of Science in Environmental Science

College

School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM)

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 995 2000 E8 F56

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