Indicators of sustainable development from the grassroots' perspective

Issue Date

10-2000

Abstract

Dimensions of sustainable development were pre-identified from existing literature. Respondents were then interviewed to identify indicators for each sub-dimension of the three dimensions of sustainable development, who then ranked such indicators. The respondents were farmer-cooperators of the Jose Panganiban Agroforestry Project under the Rainfed Resources Development Project (RRDP). The area was chosen since it has shown the elements of sustainable development. The cooperators identified the dimensions of sustainable development to be firstly economic and secondly social and environmental. The sub-dimensions for these dimensions were likewise considered hierarchical except for the environmental dimension.

Ranked highest for the sub-dimensions of the economic dimension were equity where the first three ranking indicators were security of land tenure for all, equal access to farm areas, and avoidance of degrading the resources, in that order; and availability of required inputs/investments for which the first two highest indicators were appropriate upland farming technology and provision of own/family labor.

For the social dimension, the sub-dimensions which were highest in the hierarchy and also sharing the same rank were improved education and improved health, nutrition and population management. For improved education, the highest ranking indicator was the ability to adapt technology to the local conditions. With regard to improved health, nutrition, and population management, the two highest ranking indicators were absence of common illness and more endurance in work.

The sub-dimensions for the environmental dimension were a combination of less pollutive inputs where erosion control measure was the first ranking indicator; less maintenance of ecosystem with having sufficient and clean water as the number one indicator; frugal use of resources with efficient use of land and water resources through SALT and the practice of multiple cropping and waste recycling for domestic animal production as the top-three- ranking indicators.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Agricultural Scientist, The (Formerly: The Philippine Agriculturist)

ISSN

0031-7454

Volume

83

Issue

4

Page

400-413

Document Type

Article

College

College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS)

Frequency

quarterly

Physical Description

tables; references

Language

English

Subject

sustainable development

En – AGROVOC descriptors

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT; SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE; SUSTAINABLE USE; ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT; NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT; ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT; GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS; GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES; DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS; ECONOMIC INDICATORS; COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT; FARMER PARTICIPATION

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