Needs assessment of farmers and analysis of the farming system in Brgy. Burgos, Botolan, Zambales

Date

10-2012

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

Major Course

Major in Agronomy

College

College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Oscar B. Zamora

Abstract

Brgy. Burgos is one of the eastern barangays in Botolan, Zambales where agriculture is the major livelihood. Farmers produce a variety of crops throughout the year specifically rice (rained or irrigated), corn, root crops (taro, cassava, sweet potato and yam), legumes (mungbean and sitao), fruit crops and vegetables (banana, mango, tomato, squash, eggplant, bitter gourd, radish, watermelon, etc.). The improvement of the farming practices in Brgy. Burgos was needed as farmers were looking forward to an increase in productivity of suitable crops and at the same time minimizing the adverse ecological, social, cultural and economic impacts of the farming operations. This study aime to provide an assessment of farming practices, document and analyze the existing farming systems, identify the problems encountered by farmers and provide possible recommendations. Brgy. Burgos is one of the 'erased' barangays after the violent eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. Residents were then resettled in Baquilan and Loob-Bunga Resettlement Sites, where land was not suitable for farming. Because of the fertile land and large area for cultivation in Brgy. Burgos, the displaced farmers eventually went back and engaged in farming there. Farmers use inputs such as hybrid seeds provided by the LGU and some organizations. Farm lands have been continuously cultivated since 1995 thus soil productivity has declined. Soil acidity can be treated with the use of organic fertilizer or application of lime. Soil amelioration like application of non-acidifying fertilizers is recommended to make the soil more productive. Crop rotation or multiple cropping systems can be implemented to make the farms more sustainable over the long term. Having well built roads leading to Brgy. Burgos will make transportation more convenient. Building of processing and storage facilities in the area would help farmers minimize losses whenever they cannot bring their produce to the market. Basic health services should be established in the area. Engineering infrastructures and facilities should also be built and maintained to protect threatened communities from floods and Lamar flows during typhoons and heavy rains. These recommendations would help the farmers to make their farming venture more sustainable.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 993 2012 A3 /V35

Document Type

Thesis

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