Socio-economics Assessment of Agroforestry Interventions in Selected National Greening Program (NGP) Sites in Laguna, 2019

Date

8-2021

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Arvin B. Vista

Committee Member

Arvin B. Vista, Julieta A. Delos Reyes, Agham C. Cuevas

Abstract

This study on the "Socio-economic Assessment of Agroforestry Interventions in Selected National Greening Program (NGP) Sites in Laguna, 2019" was conducted with the general objective of assessing the socio-economic impacts of the implementation of agroforestry interventions under the NGP Program. The following hypotheses were tested:

1 .Agroforestry intervention increases household income and value of household assets of farmers in NGP site regardless of commodities planted; and

2. The financial benefits of agroforestry intervention outweigh the financial costs incurred by farmers and people's organizations in the NGP sites.

Using a before and after approach, the socio-economic impact assessment compared the status of randomly selected 77 NGP farmer beneficiaries in the Municipalities of Cavinti, Siniloan, and Sta. Maria in Laguna in 20 I 0, i.e. before the NGP was implemented, and in 2017 after its implementation. Moreover, t-test was used to determine whether there was a significant difference between the before and after socio-economic characteristics of farmer-beneficiaries, focusing on two outcome variables: changes in household income and mean value of household assets. Descriptive analysis was used to describe the socio­demographic characteristics of the NGP beneficiaries, household income, household assets, cultural management practices of the farmers, and the problems they encountered.

The respondents reported that their food security improved as a result of agroforestry. The study also found that there was an increase in house ownership and other tangible assets such as household appliances, vehicles, and gadgets such as cellphones after NGP. The difference in the mean real asset value between 2010 and 2017, however, was not significant at 5% level of significance. Costs and benefits were discounted to 2011 by 12% to determine its present worth. Total discounted cost was PhP37 million, total discounted benefit was PbP23 l million, and the net present value (NPV) was PhPI 94 million. Based on an NPV greater than zero, BCR greater than one (6.2%), and the IRR (57%) greater than the discount rate of 12%, it can be concluded that the NGP in Laguna had been financially efficient and effective. This means that the financial benefits of agroforestry intervention outweigh the financial costs incurred by farmers and people's organizations in the NGP sites. The sensitivity analysis conducted showed that even with the changes in discount rates, costs, and returns, the NGP remains financially efficient and feasible

The problems cited were pests and diseases such as cocolisap, illegal burning, low survival rate of seedlings, low prices of harvested goods and difficulty in accessing other parts of forest lands. The study recommends the conduct of studies on the reasons for low survival rates of the seedlings including the exploration of solutions such as improved quality of seedlings, canopy closure, microclimate, and biodiversity conditions in the NGP sites and the monitoring and evaluation of the NGP program. It also recommends that support to communities and partner POs be increased through the provision of higher funding for forest protection and maintenance activities of partner POs be increased through the provision of higher funding for forest protection and maintenance activities of partner POs and through the improvement of their well-being and organizational and technical skills.

Language

English

LC Subject

Agroforestry

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2020 A14 S25

Document Type

Thesis

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