GIS-based inventory and sustainability assessment if rubber and cacao in major production areas of the Philippines

Date

2017

Abstract

Rubber and cacao are considered high value commercial crops in the Philippines due to its high global and local demand. Identification of potential expansion areas for these commodities is essential to increase local production and improve their quality while taking advantage of the market demand. A database on existing plantation of nine provinces in the Philippines identified s major production areas of rubber and cacao was developed. Secondary data was gathered to assess the current situation and production volume through plantation key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Using geographic information system (GIS), remote sensing (RS) and other inventory techniques, habitat suitability and niche modeling were conducted to determine the potential expansion of production areas after culling out restricted areas and existing plantation areas. Zamboanga Sibugay shows that 33% of the province is suitable for rubber plantations, the largest expanse in all provinces visited. Areas determined as suitable are concentrated within the municipalities of Tungawan and Roseller Lim. Compostela Valley and North Cotabato ranked next in provinces with the highest suitability consisting of 30% and 21%,respectively of the total area of the province. Basilan and Bukidnon provinces were determined to be most suitable to cacao farming. In Bukidnon, high suitability areas concentrate within the municipalities of Talakag and Kalilangan. In Basilan, suitable areas are within the municipalities of Tipo-tipo and Al-barka. In Isabela and Lamitan City, 15% of their respective land areas were determined to have high suitability to rubber plantations. In Davao del Sur, 80% of the land area were determined as moderately suitable to cacao. The authors propose a continuation of the positive outputs of the project by providing additional capacity building activities in the study provinces as well as applying the niche modeling.

Language

English

Document Type

Article

Pages /Collation

335 leaves

En – AGROVOC descriptors

RUBBER; THEOBROMA CACAO; PRODUCTION LOCATION; GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS; SURVEYS; REMOTE SENSING; MODELS; DATABASES; COMPUTER APPLICATIONS; COMPUTER SOFTWARE; PHILIPPINES

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