Needs assessment of the Tumalim Farmers Multi- Purpose Cooperative (TFMC) members and documentation of their introduction to sustainable agriculture in Barangay Tumalim, Nasugbu, Batangas

Date

12-2007

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

Major Course

Major in Agronomy

College

College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Manuel M. Lantin

Co-adviser

Oscar B. Zamora

Abstract

The farm practice was conducted in Barangay Tumalim, Nasugbu, Batangas from May to June 2006. It aims to identify the agricultural needs of the community and document its introduction to sustainable agriculture (SA). The objectives of the farm practice are: to characterize the biophysical, socio-cultural, socio-economic and political conditions of the area; to document existing farming systems, unique practices and problems and potentials of these practices for further improvement and utilization; to identify strategies for the introduction of sustainable agriculture in the community; and to identify facilitating and constraining factors that would affect the adoption of sustainable agriculture by the sugarcane farmers in the community. individual interviews provided the primary data needed and secondary data was obtained from municipal, barangay and organizational records.

Sugarcane is the primary crop planted in the area because of its adaptability to the biophysical conditions of the project area and the familiarity and ease of management of the crop. Market demand has the greatest influence on the type of the crop planted in the area. Since sugarcane has the most stable market in the project area, it is the major crop of the community. Other crops planted are corn, eggplant and tomato. Use of chemical inputs is the prevalent practice among the farmers of the community. With the growing problem of increasing price of agrochemical inputs, the farmers of Barangay Tumalim are starting to find other means of production that will minimize expenses and at the same time increase or maintain present production.

The farmers respondents have identified several facilitating and constraining factors for the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices. Among the constraining factors identified are: lack of knowledge of SA practices, lack of government support, unforeseen profitability of some SA practices, perception that SA is a threat to the existing sugarcane industry and difficulty of management. Some facilitating factors identified are reduction in expenses on inputs and avoidance of further damage to the land. Adoption of sustainable agriculture is greatly influenced by farmer's attitude to take risks and try new farming systems. Some constraining factors could be addressed by the conduct of trainings, seminars and activities on SA, establishment of learning farm wherein different SA practices could be tried and serve as venue for farmers to experiment with less risk on their farm. To assure effective implementation in the farmer's field however, monitoring and follow-up activities must be conducted.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 993 2007 A42 R47

Document Type

Thesis

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