College of Public Affairs and Development University of the Philippines Los Baños College, Laguna 4031 Philippines
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Working Paper No. 2017-11 AGRICULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT IN ISLAND COMMUNITIES: RESULTS OF HOUSEHOLD SURVEY OF RAINFED LOWLAND AND UPLAND RICE FARMERS IN MILAGROS, MASBATE Therese R. Olviga, Ruth Anne T. Ruelos, Rubelyn S. Villa, Merlyne M. Paunlagui,Rowena dT. Baconguis and Agnes C. Rola Center for Strategic Planning and Policy Studies (formerly Center for Policy and Development Studies) College of Public Affairs and Development University of the Philippines Los Baños College, Laguna 4031 Philippines Telephone: (63-049) 536-3455 Fax: (63-049) 536-3637 Homepage: https://cpaf.uplb.edu.ph/ i The CSPPS Working Paper series reports the results of studies by the Center researchers and CPAf faculty, staff and students, which have not been reviewed. These are circulated for the purpose of soliciting comments and suggestions. The views expressed in the paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of CSPPS, the agency with which the authors are affiliated, and the funding agencies, if applicable. Please send your comments to: The Director Center for Strategic Planning & Policy Studies (formerly CPDS) College of Public Affairs and Development University of the Philippines Los Baños College, Laguna 4031 Philippines Email: [email protected] ii ABSTRACT This paper summarizes the findings of the household surveys in Milagros, Masbate that were used as baseline data for monitoring and evaluation of the CRDES Phase 2 Project. Data were obtained from two sets of survey: baseline survey of 150 rainfed rice farmers in 2015 and 90 upland rice farmers in 2016. Results show that Milagros still remains to be a highly agricultural municipality where majority of the people still depend on agriculture as their main source of income. Rice is the main crop planted by respondents and it is not enough to suffice their daily needs. Regarding enhancing their productivity and income, there is a great opportunity for improvement. Farmers are very driven to learn new ways of farming and are very motivated to improve their yields. Keywords: Rice farmers, upland, rainfed agriculture, Milagros, Masbate iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. Introduction 1 II. Agricultural production in Masbate 3 III. Household information 4 3.1 Socio-demographic characteristics of farmers and their 4 households 3.2 House ownership and household utilities 5 3.3 Household assets 6 3.4 Sources of income 7 IV. Climatic conditions and farming environment in Milagros, 8 Masbate V. Farming and farm-related characteristics 12 5.1 Farm assets 12 5.2 Number of parcels and farm size 12 5.3 Land tenure 13 5.4 Crops planted 13 5.5 Livestock production 14 5.6 Poultry production 16 5.7 Aquaculture 17 VI. Summary and conclusion 18 VII. References 19 Appendices 20 iv List of Tables Page Table 1. Selected socio-demographic characteristics of respondents, 5 Milagros, Masbate, 2014 and 2015, in percent Table 2. Household characteristics of respondents, Milagros, 2014 and 6 2015, in percent Table 3. Percentage of farmers with the following household assets, 7 Milagros, Masbate, 2014 and 2015 Table 4. Sources of income, Milagros, Masbate, 2014 and 2015 8 Table 5. Start and end of wet season, Milagros, Masbate, 2014 and 2015, 8 in percent Table 6. Farmers’ description of wet season, Milagros, Masbate, 2014 and 9 2015, in percent Table 7. Frequency of natural flooding during rainy season, Milagros, 9 Masbate, 2014 and 2015, in percent Table 8. Degree farms by respondents are affected by floods, 2014 and 9 2015, in percent Table 9. Start and end of dry season, Milagros, Masbate, 2014 and 2015, in 10 percent Table 10. Farmers’ description of dry season and soil moisture, Milagros, 10 Masbate, 2014 and 2015, in percent Table 11. Percentage of farmers with soil fertility indicators, Milagros, 11 Masbate, 2014 and 2015, in percent Table 12. Soil fertility indicators of farmers, Milagros, Masbate, 2014 and 11 2015, in percent Table 13. Status of soil and soil conservation practices of respondents, 11 Milagros, Masbate, 2014 and 2015, in percent Table 14. Percentage of farmers with the following major farm assets, 12 Milagros, Masbate, 2014 and 2015, in percent Table 15. Number of parcels of land, Milagros, Masbate, 2014 and 2015, in 13 percent Table 16. Average size of farm/holding of respondents, Milagros, Masbate, 13 2014 and 2015 Table 17. Ownership of primary parcel of land, Milagros, Masbate, 2014 13 and 2015, in percent Table 18. Crops planted by respondents in their primary parcel of land, 14 Milagros, Masbate, 2014 and 2015, in percent Table 19. Livestock raised by farmers, Milagros, Masbate, 2014 and 2015, 14 in percent Table 20a. Information on livestock raised, lowland, Milagros, Masbate, 15 2014 Table 20b. Information on livestock raised, upland, Milagros, Masbate, 2015 15 Table 21. Animal tending practices, livestock, Milagros, Masbate, 2014 and 15 2015, in percent Table 22. Poultry raised by farmers, Milagros, Masbate, 2014 and 2015, in 16 percent Table 23. Average number of poultry raised by farmers, Milagros, Masbate, 16 2014 and 2015 v Table 24. Reasons for raising poultry, Milagros, Masbate, 2014 and 2015, in 16 percent Table 25. Feeds used for fowls, Milagros, Masbate, 2014 and 2015, in 17 percent Table 26. Fowl tending practices, Milagros, Masbate, 2014 and 2015, in 17 percent Table 27. Information regarding fish culture integration, Milagros, Masbate, 18 2014 and 2015, in percent Table 28. Percentage of farmers who think fish integration is possible in 18 their farms, Milagros, Masbate, 2014 and 2015 List of Figures Page Figure 1. Map of Masbate 2 Figure 2. Rice production, Masbate, 2006-2014 4 Appendices Page Table 1. Sources of household income per barangay, lowland rainfed, 20 2014 Table 2. Sources of household income per barangay, upland, 2015 21 vi AGRICULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT IN ISLAND COMMUNITIES: RESULTS OF HOUSEHOLD SURVEY OF RAINFED LOWLAND AND UPLAND RICE FARMERS IN MILAGROS, MASBATE Therese R. Olviga, Ruth Anne T. Ruelos, Rubelyn S. Villa, Merlyne M. Paunlagui, Rowena dT. Baconguis and Agnes C. Rola I. Introduction The Collaborative Research, Development, and Extension Services (CRDES) Phase 2 Program is a follow-through of the CRDES Program which was crafted under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA- BAR) to identify avenues where extension for the agricultural sector may be fully harnessed using the rice self-sufficiency as the anchor commodity for investigation. Particular interest of the CRDES Program included looking at avenues of partnership with various stakeholders including the LGUs, academe, regional line agencies, and other local-based organizations for a stronger and well-functioning agricultural extension system. CRDES facilitated networking and collaboration between these stakeholders in the conduct of empirical-based agricultural assessment and planning in the research and extension proposal making. The collaboration with the significant development actors in the agricultural extension system in the country that was formed through the CRDES Program served as foundations for future partnerships and collaborations in other undertakings. Lessons from the CRDES experience suggest that there should be a follow-through of enhanced partnerships in other regions of the country; thus, CRDES Phase 2 Program was formed. While looking at other local initiatives, it was discovered that there are already participatory extension approaches that are proven to be adaptive at local conditions such as the Palayamanan of the PhilRice and CPAR of the DA-BAR. Both approaches have been proven to be successful and it is recommended to ensure that these kinds of projects reach more localities. Mainstreaming these approaches, however, can be tedious and would require multi-stakeholder participation as both approaches rely on initiative and strong collaboration to work. It was realized that continued collaboration in research and extension starts off through joint program analysis and capability building activities; hence, the CRDES 2 Program would have three major accomplishments: 1) capacity building, 2) developing policy and planning instruments, and 3) project implementation of Palayamanan using CPAR approach. CRDES Phase 2 Program works on the premise that improvement of the extension system through sustained collaboration using proven extension programs would lead not only to the strengthening of the extension system through improved capacities of stakeholders but more importantly, lead to improved productivity and income. Through agricultural diversification and capacity building, CRDES Phase 2 Program aims to improve the resiliency of farmers towards climate change. The objectives of the project include: 1.) determining the crop mix most suitable in the study sites and improve the marketing of these products based on the community services available in the areas; 2.) mainstreaming the Palayamanan system of farming in the agricultural extension system through the conduct of Climate Field Schools; the 1 conduct of capacity building at the municipal level on agricultural development planning; and 4.) monitoring and documentation of the experience of mainstreaming Palayamanan in the province of Masbate and Camarines Sur. As part of Objective 4, a household survey was conducted to provide both quantitative and qualitative data of the farmer-respondents from Milagros, Masbate that can be useful as a baseline data for monitoring and evaluation. The baseline data that were gathered were used to track progress that was made throughout the project with respect to the targeted outcomes. Findings from the household survey were also used as guides in determining the needs of the farmers in the study sites which was then integrated into the modules of the Climate Field School. Milagros, Masbate is one of the twenty municipalities of Masbate (Figure 1). Located South West of Masbate City, Milagros is a first class municipality and is the largest municipality of Masbate with a total land area of 56, 540 hectares. Of the total land area, 99.75% are classified as rural areas. Milagros has 27 barangays, 18 of which are coastal barangays.