BIBLIOGRAPHY PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL ...
BIBLIOGRAPHY
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013. Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic
Farming in Tuba, Benguet. Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet.
Adviser: Andrew K. Del-ong. BSc.
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to assess the farmer’s acceptability of organic farming in
Tuba, Benguet. The specified objective were to determine the farmer’s awareness on
organic farming; identify the reasons why farmers are not practicing organic farming and
identify the farmer’s sources of information about organic farming. Survey questionnaires
were randomly distributed to 100 respondents who are all engaged into farming.
Conventional farming is mostly practiced in the area and most of the respondents
are dependent on farming as a main source of income.
Majority of the respondents are aware and has already heard about organic farming
from broadcast media but only a few of them tried organic farming. The main internal
reason why most of these farmers did not practice organic farming is because they have
inadequate knowledge and it is not convenient to apply in their area while the main external
reason also are; there is no support from the government in case the farmer’s farm failed
and the farmers are already exposed to conventional farming. Organic farming is
acceptable to almost all of the respondent and they are willing to go into this kind of
farming if the needed support will be given to them.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
Based on the findings of the study, organic farming is mostly heard by respondents
from broadcast media and is acceptable to the people. Inadequate knowledge and no
support from the government in case the farm of the farmers failed are the main reason of
farmers in not adopting organic farming but there is a potential for organic farming to be
practiced by majority of the people in the area as long as the needed support will be given
to them.
It is recommended that the Department of Agriculture and other concerned agencies
must conduct more seminars and give more information about organic farming for the
people to be aware about this farming system and that the support needed by the farmers
should be provided in order for them to go into organic farming.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
INTRODUCTION
Rationale
Farmers have become more aware of the harmful effects brought about by the use
of chemicals in their farms especially to their health. As a consequence, according to
Colting as cited by Palangchao (2006) in the study of Lomiwes (2007) many farmers in
La Trinidad and the rest of Benguet Province have become receptive to the idea of
shifting from conventional farming to organic farming.
The development sector at the turn of the century is broadly estimated to be worth
USD 26 billion worldwide and generally the most rapidly growing sector of agriculture.
Growth has largely been led by demand from consumers in high-income countries who
favour organic produce for a variety of reasons, including perceived benefits to health and
the environment, perceived improvements in the food quality and taste, accessibility of
fresh produce, and helping small-scale local producers, communities and markets. For
some producers, organic farming is both a way of life, involving a holistic ecosystem
approach to agriculture, production, and an economic enterprise. For others, organic
farming is viewed primarily as an economic activity responding to consumer preferences,
marketed as niche foods at premium prices through supermarkets. In other countries, this
has meant that large corporate farming operations are now using organic methods. This
present a challenge for some in the organic movement who are concerned about the social
and environmental impacts of business practices and structural characteristics of
mainstream agriculture but also want to encourage the spread of organic farming principles
and facilitate greater consumer access to organic food (Anonymous, 2003).
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
Organic farming is the practice of raising plants, especially fruits and vegetables,
but ornamentals as well, without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers.
Though, for people view organic farming as backward, this actually goes hand- and
-hand with previewing our environment and sustaining our land (Malanes, 2004) as cited
in the study of Lomiwes (2007).Thus people should be more aware in maintaining the long-
term fertility of the soil not only for their own benefit but also for the benefits of future
generations.
Tuba is a second class municipality in the province of Benguet, Philippines.
According to the latest census, it has a population of 40,008 people in 7,210 households.
Tuba is among the thirteen municipalities of the Province of Benguet. It lies at the
south to southwestern tip of the province of Benguet as well as the Cordillera
Administrative Region. It is bounded on the north by the city of Baguio, on the east by the
municipality of Itogon, on the south by the province of Pangasinan, and on the west by the
province of La Union. It has a total land area of 44, 925.95 hectares comprising thirteen
barangays.
While the municipality is classified as second class municipality, the predominant
type of employment in the locality is farming and other agriculture-based activities.
Considering the emerging popularity of organically produced commodities in the
world which is seen to benefit organic farming practitioners in the Philippines, Benguet
farmers in particular. This study would was conducted to determine the acceptability of
organic farming among farmers of Tuba, Benguet.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
The Beginning of the Organic Food Market
Organic farming lies in Europe, where different actors experimented with and
develop forms of alternative agriculture from the early 1920’s. A worldwide organic
market has existed ever since. Only after World War 11 did difference between organic
food and that produced by conventional industrialized farming system become more
evident to consumers. By the 1960’s a range of alternative food distribution networks-
including non-profit food cooperatives and consumers had also been established, providing
for the local distribution of organic food (Lockeretz, 2007). In the early 1970’s,
environmental movements increased their focus on organic farming and consumers were
specifically targeted.
Farming
Farming is a member’s skill, in which players grow crops using seeds and harvest
useful items from them, or more commonly harvest the plant itself. The crops grown range
from the standard staples of vegetables, fruits and fruit trees, herbs, to more exotic and
usual crops such as wood bearing trees, cacti, and mushrooms. The harvested items have
wide range of uses, but are mostly used to train herb lure or cooking, or simply eaten as
food. Many players sell their harvest for a significant profit.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
Organic
The term organic is best thought of as referring not to the type of inputs used, but
to the concept of the farm as an organism, in which all the components such as soil
minerals, organic matter, microorganisms, insect, plants and humans interact to create a
coherent self-regulating and stable whole. Reliance on external inputs, whether chemical
or organic is reduced as far as possible (Anonymous, 2005).
Organic Agriculture and Sustainability
The strong balance of evidence from research, field’s trials and farm experience is
that organic agricultural practices are generally more environmentally friendly than
conventional agriculture, particularly with regard to lower pesticide residues, a richer
biodiversity and greater resilience drought. Organic farming also holds the potential to
lower nutrient run-off and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There are situations where
intensive management within organic farming regimes can impoverish biodiversity and
animal manure can be applied in excess of requirements.
Evidence concerning the economic performance of organic compared to
conventional farming is mixed. While yields tend to be lower on organic farms, and labour
cost higher than on conventional farms, profitability is generally higher, due to price
premiums and –in many countries- support payments. Generalised economic performance
comparisons between organic and conventional farms are not always meaningful-there can
be as much variation within each farm system as across them. The analysis and
understanding of social aspects of organic farming are least well developed, and
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
comparisons with conventional agriculture are not easy to make. Organic agriculture is
based on holistic view of the integration of farming into nature.
Policy approaches to organic agriculture. Government justify policy intervention in
the organic sector on the basis on the infant- industry argument and/ or market failure and
the provision of public environmental benefits. The infant- industry justification is based
on the cost of converting from conventional to organic production. The market- failure
justification is based on cases where the market does not remunerate environmental
benefits generated by organic farming systems. This is compounded where farms organic
or conventional are not held to account for any environmental damage they cause.
The significant production growth in the sector. Industry and government sources
indicate that global organic production has increased to 20% annually over the past 10
years.
Growing consumer demand for organic products. While organic food products
provide only a small share of total consumption in Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development (OECD) countries; this share is higher in some countries, notably in
Europe, and for certain products, such as fruit, vegetables and dairy products. This growth
has been influenced to some degree by food scares associated with non-organic products
and the perceived health benefits of organic products.
Public concern for sustainability. Organic agriculture is seen to provide a more
sustainable farming system, offering alternative economic opportunities for producers, a
production system, more in tune with the environment, along with greater social
responsibility.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
Significance of Producing Organic Vegetables
According to De la Cruz (2004), crops that were applied with organic fertilizer
performed better compared to those crops that were grown with commercial fertilizer. The
slow release of nutrients from animal manure minimizes the nutrient losses in the soil
resulting to the efficient nutrient uptake of crops that leads to higher yields. Organic
farming also serves as a valuable conditioner of soil retaining humidity and improving,
structure and internal drainage. Organic system replenishes and maintains soil fertility,
eliminate the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically
diverse agriculture.
Advantages of Organic Farming
The most important of the advantages of organic farming is that it maintains the life
of the soil, not only for the current generation, but also for the future generation. Water
pollution is reduced with organic farming. Most of the times after rains, the water from the
fields, which contains chemical, get drained into the rivers. This pollutes the water bodies.
In organic farming, since no chemicals or synthetics are used, water pollution reduces as
well.
Organically grown food tastes better too. The overall cost of cultivating the crops
reduces as the farmers use green manure or worm farming to replenish the lost nutrients of
the soil. The other option that the farmers use is to grow legumes in rotation with other
crops.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
Disadvantages of Organic Farming
Along with the pros of organic farming, there are certain cons too. One
disadvantage is that it has low productivity. With the highly developed chemicals and
machinery, the farmer is able to multiply his harvest manifold times. The organic farmers
use the cultivation method as opposed to drilling method used by the traditional farmers.
The cultivated soil is prone to wind and water erosion. The traditional farmers don’t know
that direct drilling does not cause any disharmony in soil structure. The organically
produced food is also expensive. The cost is very often 50-100% more than the traditional
food and lastly, organic food is not always available in the market.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
METHODOLOGY
Locale and Time of the Study
The study was conducted in the 5 barangays of Tuba, Benguet namely, Tabaan
Norte, Tabaan Sur, Taloy Sur, Taloy Norte, and Nangalisan. The five barangays were
chosen because the residents of these areas rely most on farming as a source of income.
Tuba is situated in the southwestern tip of the Central Cordillera Mountain Range that
extends from the northwestern tip of Luzon towards Pangasinan and is considered the
gateway to Baguio City and Benguet. It shares common boundaries with the provinces of
Pangasinan and La Union to the south. Tuba is a Philippine municipality in the province
of Benguet in Region Cordillera Administrative Region which belongs to the Luzon group
of islands. The municipality of Tuba is seated about 18 km south-south-west of La
Trinidad, the Provincial capital and about 199 km north-west of Manila, the capital of the
Philippines. The map of the site is shown in Figure 1.
This study was conducted from December to January 2013.
Respondents of the Study
Respondents were limited to the farmers who are residents of Tuba, Benguet for
easier access. There were a total of 100 respondents that were randomly selected from the
identified barangays of Tuba, Benguet.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
Data Collection
A survey questionnaire was distributed by the researcher to the respondents.
Data Gathered
The data gathered was the socio-demographic characteristics of the farmers; their
awareness and acceptability of organic farming.
Data Analysis
The data collected was consolidated, tabulated, and analyzed using frequency
counts, averages and percentage.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
The study was conducted in five barangays of Tuba, Benguet namely, Tabaan Sur,
Tabaan Norte, Taloy Sur, Taloy Norte and Nangalisan. The study aimed to determine the
farmers’ awareness on organic farming, identify the reasons why farmers are not practicing
organic farming and identify the farmers’ sources of information about organic farming.
Survey questionnaires were randomly distributed to 100 respondents who are all
engaged into farming. The data gathered were consolidated, tabulated and analyzed using
frequency counts, averages and percentage.
Conventional farming is mostly practiced in the area. Most of the respondents are
dependent on farming as a main source of income.
A great majority of the respondents are aware and has already heard about organic
farming mostly from broadcast media, other sources are from their relatives, friends,
seminars given by the Department of Agriculture (DA), Agriculturist and farm Technicians
who are going in their place but only a few of them tried organic farming.
The main internal reason why most of these farmers did not practice organic
farming is because they have inadequate knowledge and it is not convenient to apply in
their area while the main external reason also are; there is no support from the government
in case the farmer’s farm failed and the farmers are already exposed to conventional
farming.
Organic farming is acceptable to almost all of the respondent and they are willing
to go into this kind of farming if the needed support will be given to them.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
Conclusions
Based on the findings of the study, the following conclusions were derived:
1. Organic farming is mostly heard in broadcast media;
2. Organic farming is not merely practiced in the area but is acceptable to the
people;
3. Inadequate knowledge and no support from the government in case the farm of
the farmers failed are the main reason of farmers in not adopting organic farming; and,
4. There is a potential for organic farming to be practiced by majority of the farmers
in the area as long as the needed support will be given to them.
Recommendations
From the conclusions, the following are recommended:
1. The Department of Agriculture and other concerned agencies must conduct more
seminars and give more information about organic farming for the people to be aware about
this farming system; and,
2. The support needed by the farmers should be provided in order for them to go
into organic farming. Technical support; financial support and marketing of the organic
product they produced are the support needed by the respondents in the area.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
LITERATURE CITED
ALDRICH, H.R.1977. Conventional vs. Organic Farming. Retrieved February 6, 2013
from http://www.lib.niu.edu/1977/ii770919.html.
ANONYMOUS, 2005. Organic Agriculture and Poverty Reduction in Asia. Via Del
Serafico. 107-00142 Rome, Italy. P. 13.
ANONYMOUS, 2003. Organic Farming Retrieved September 2, 2006 from
http://wwwye/worms.com/organic farming/benefit-html.
ANONYMOUS , 2003. CABI Publishing. Organic Agriculture. Sustainability, Markets
and Policies. Pp. 9-18.
ANONYMOUS, n.d. Municipality of Tuba. Retrieved December 4, 2012 from
http://tuba.gov.ph/tuba/.
DE LA CRUZ, R. T.2004. Growing Vegetables Organically. BAR Research and
Development Digest. Bureau of Agricultural Research Department of Agriculture.
Pp. 1-2, and 9.
ECO PHILIPPINES, 2011.Organic Gardening. Retrieved February 6, 2013 from
http://www.eco-philippines.com/organic-farming-in-thephilippines%E2%80%93-
part-1/
LOCKERETZ, W.2007. Organic Farming. An International History. Pp.3-4.
LOMIWES, J.T. 2007. Information Sources on Organic Farming of Farms in Loo,
Buguias, Benguet .Unpublished BS Thesis. Benguet State University, La
Trinidad, Benguet.
PALANGCHAO, H. 2006. Oct.8. BSU Organic Farm Seen to Propel LT Strawberry.
Baguio Midland Courier. Volume LIX: P. 10 and 39.
THE FREE DICTIONARY .Organic Farming. Retrieved December 4, 2012 from
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/organic+farming.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013. Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic
Farming in Tuba, Benguet. Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet.
Adviser: Andrew K. Del-ong. BSc.
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to assess the farmer’s acceptability of organic farming in
Tuba, Benguet. The specified objective were to determine the farmer’s awareness on
organic farming; identify the reasons why farmers are not practicing organic farming and
identify the farmer’s sources of information about organic farming. Survey questionnaires
were randomly distributed to 100 respondents who are all engaged into farming.
Conventional farming is mostly practiced in the area and most of the respondents
are dependent on farming as a main source of income.
Majority of the respondents are aware and has already heard about organic farming
from broadcast media but only a few of them tried organic farming. The main internal
reason why most of these farmers did not practice organic farming is because they have
inadequate knowledge and it is not convenient to apply in their area while the main external
reason also are; there is no support from the government in case the farmer’s farm failed
and the farmers are already exposed to conventional farming. Organic farming is
acceptable to almost all of the respondent and they are willing to go into this kind of
farming if the needed support will be given to them.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
Based on the findings of the study, organic farming is mostly heard by respondents
from broadcast media and is acceptable to the people. Inadequate knowledge and no
support from the government in case the farm of the farmers failed are the main reason of
farmers in not adopting organic farming but there is a potential for organic farming to be
practiced by majority of the people in the area as long as the needed support will be given
to them.
It is recommended that the Department of Agriculture and other concerned agencies
must conduct more seminars and give more information about organic farming for the
people to be aware about this farming system and that the support needed by the farmers
should be provided in order for them to go into organic farming.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
INTRODUCTION
Rationale
Farmers have become more aware of the harmful effects brought about by the use
of chemicals in their farms especially to their health. As a consequence, according to
Colting as cited by Palangchao (2006) in the study of Lomiwes (2007) many farmers in
La Trinidad and the rest of Benguet Province have become receptive to the idea of
shifting from conventional farming to organic farming.
The development sector at the turn of the century is broadly estimated to be worth
USD 26 billion worldwide and generally the most rapidly growing sector of agriculture.
Growth has largely been led by demand from consumers in high-income countries who
favour organic produce for a variety of reasons, including perceived benefits to health and
the environment, perceived improvements in the food quality and taste, accessibility of
fresh produce, and helping small-scale local producers, communities and markets. For
some producers, organic farming is both a way of life, involving a holistic ecosystem
approach to agriculture, production, and an economic enterprise. For others, organic
farming is viewed primarily as an economic activity responding to consumer preferences,
marketed as niche foods at premium prices through supermarkets. In other countries, this
has meant that large corporate farming operations are now using organic methods. This
present a challenge for some in the organic movement who are concerned about the social
and environmental impacts of business practices and structural characteristics of
mainstream agriculture but also want to encourage the spread of organic farming principles
and facilitate greater consumer access to organic food (Anonymous, 2003).
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
Organic farming is the practice of raising plants, especially fruits and vegetables,
but ornamentals as well, without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers.
Though, for people view organic farming as backward, this actually goes hand- and
-hand with previewing our environment and sustaining our land (Malanes, 2004) as cited
in the study of Lomiwes (2007).Thus people should be more aware in maintaining the long-
term fertility of the soil not only for their own benefit but also for the benefits of future
generations.
Tuba is a second class municipality in the province of Benguet, Philippines.
According to the latest census, it has a population of 40,008 people in 7,210 households.
Tuba is among the thirteen municipalities of the Province of Benguet. It lies at the
south to southwestern tip of the province of Benguet as well as the Cordillera
Administrative Region. It is bounded on the north by the city of Baguio, on the east by the
municipality of Itogon, on the south by the province of Pangasinan, and on the west by the
province of La Union. It has a total land area of 44, 925.95 hectares comprising thirteen
barangays.
While the municipality is classified as second class municipality, the predominant
type of employment in the locality is farming and other agriculture-based activities.
Considering the emerging popularity of organically produced commodities in the
world which is seen to benefit organic farming practitioners in the Philippines, Benguet
farmers in particular. This study would was conducted to determine the acceptability of
organic farming among farmers of Tuba, Benguet.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
The Beginning of the Organic Food Market
Organic farming lies in Europe, where different actors experimented with and
develop forms of alternative agriculture from the early 1920’s. A worldwide organic
market has existed ever since. Only after World War 11 did difference between organic
food and that produced by conventional industrialized farming system become more
evident to consumers. By the 1960’s a range of alternative food distribution networks-
including non-profit food cooperatives and consumers had also been established, providing
for the local distribution of organic food (Lockeretz, 2007). In the early 1970’s,
environmental movements increased their focus on organic farming and consumers were
specifically targeted.
Farming
Farming is a member’s skill, in which players grow crops using seeds and harvest
useful items from them, or more commonly harvest the plant itself. The crops grown range
from the standard staples of vegetables, fruits and fruit trees, herbs, to more exotic and
usual crops such as wood bearing trees, cacti, and mushrooms. The harvested items have
wide range of uses, but are mostly used to train herb lure or cooking, or simply eaten as
food. Many players sell their harvest for a significant profit.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
Organic
The term organic is best thought of as referring not to the type of inputs used, but
to the concept of the farm as an organism, in which all the components such as soil
minerals, organic matter, microorganisms, insect, plants and humans interact to create a
coherent self-regulating and stable whole. Reliance on external inputs, whether chemical
or organic is reduced as far as possible (Anonymous, 2005).
Organic Agriculture and Sustainability
The strong balance of evidence from research, field’s trials and farm experience is
that organic agricultural practices are generally more environmentally friendly than
conventional agriculture, particularly with regard to lower pesticide residues, a richer
biodiversity and greater resilience drought. Organic farming also holds the potential to
lower nutrient run-off and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There are situations where
intensive management within organic farming regimes can impoverish biodiversity and
animal manure can be applied in excess of requirements.
Evidence concerning the economic performance of organic compared to
conventional farming is mixed. While yields tend to be lower on organic farms, and labour
cost higher than on conventional farms, profitability is generally higher, due to price
premiums and –in many countries- support payments. Generalised economic performance
comparisons between organic and conventional farms are not always meaningful-there can
be as much variation within each farm system as across them. The analysis and
understanding of social aspects of organic farming are least well developed, and
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
comparisons with conventional agriculture are not easy to make. Organic agriculture is
based on holistic view of the integration of farming into nature.
Policy approaches to organic agriculture. Government justify policy intervention in
the organic sector on the basis on the infant- industry argument and/ or market failure and
the provision of public environmental benefits. The infant- industry justification is based
on the cost of converting from conventional to organic production. The market- failure
justification is based on cases where the market does not remunerate environmental
benefits generated by organic farming systems. This is compounded where farms organic
or conventional are not held to account for any environmental damage they cause.
The significant production growth in the sector. Industry and government sources
indicate that global organic production has increased to 20% annually over the past 10
years.
Growing consumer demand for organic products. While organic food products
provide only a small share of total consumption in Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development (OECD) countries; this share is higher in some countries, notably in
Europe, and for certain products, such as fruit, vegetables and dairy products. This growth
has been influenced to some degree by food scares associated with non-organic products
and the perceived health benefits of organic products.
Public concern for sustainability. Organic agriculture is seen to provide a more
sustainable farming system, offering alternative economic opportunities for producers, a
production system, more in tune with the environment, along with greater social
responsibility.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
Significance of Producing Organic Vegetables
According to De la Cruz (2004), crops that were applied with organic fertilizer
performed better compared to those crops that were grown with commercial fertilizer. The
slow release of nutrients from animal manure minimizes the nutrient losses in the soil
resulting to the efficient nutrient uptake of crops that leads to higher yields. Organic
farming also serves as a valuable conditioner of soil retaining humidity and improving,
structure and internal drainage. Organic system replenishes and maintains soil fertility,
eliminate the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically
diverse agriculture.
Advantages of Organic Farming
The most important of the advantages of organic farming is that it maintains the life
of the soil, not only for the current generation, but also for the future generation. Water
pollution is reduced with organic farming. Most of the times after rains, the water from the
fields, which contains chemical, get drained into the rivers. This pollutes the water bodies.
In organic farming, since no chemicals or synthetics are used, water pollution reduces as
well.
Organically grown food tastes better too. The overall cost of cultivating the crops
reduces as the farmers use green manure or worm farming to replenish the lost nutrients of
the soil. The other option that the farmers use is to grow legumes in rotation with other
crops.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
Disadvantages of Organic Farming
Along with the pros of organic farming, there are certain cons too. One
disadvantage is that it has low productivity. With the highly developed chemicals and
machinery, the farmer is able to multiply his harvest manifold times. The organic farmers
use the cultivation method as opposed to drilling method used by the traditional farmers.
The cultivated soil is prone to wind and water erosion. The traditional farmers don’t know
that direct drilling does not cause any disharmony in soil structure. The organically
produced food is also expensive. The cost is very often 50-100% more than the traditional
food and lastly, organic food is not always available in the market.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
METHODOLOGY
Locale and Time of the Study
The study was conducted in the 5 barangays of Tuba, Benguet namely, Tabaan
Norte, Tabaan Sur, Taloy Sur, Taloy Norte, and Nangalisan. The five barangays were
chosen because the residents of these areas rely most on farming as a source of income.
Tuba is situated in the southwestern tip of the Central Cordillera Mountain Range that
extends from the northwestern tip of Luzon towards Pangasinan and is considered the
gateway to Baguio City and Benguet. It shares common boundaries with the provinces of
Pangasinan and La Union to the south. Tuba is a Philippine municipality in the province
of Benguet in Region Cordillera Administrative Region which belongs to the Luzon group
of islands. The municipality of Tuba is seated about 18 km south-south-west of La
Trinidad, the Provincial capital and about 199 km north-west of Manila, the capital of the
Philippines. The map of the site is shown in Figure 1.
This study was conducted from December to January 2013.
Respondents of the Study
Respondents were limited to the farmers who are residents of Tuba, Benguet for
easier access. There were a total of 100 respondents that were randomly selected from the
identified barangays of Tuba, Benguet.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
Data Collection
A survey questionnaire was distributed by the researcher to the respondents.
Data Gathered
The data gathered was the socio-demographic characteristics of the farmers; their
awareness and acceptability of organic farming.
Data Analysis
The data collected was consolidated, tabulated, and analyzed using frequency
counts, averages and percentage.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
The study was conducted in five barangays of Tuba, Benguet namely, Tabaan Sur,
Tabaan Norte, Taloy Sur, Taloy Norte and Nangalisan. The study aimed to determine the
farmers’ awareness on organic farming, identify the reasons why farmers are not practicing
organic farming and identify the farmers’ sources of information about organic farming.
Survey questionnaires were randomly distributed to 100 respondents who are all
engaged into farming. The data gathered were consolidated, tabulated and analyzed using
frequency counts, averages and percentage.
Conventional farming is mostly practiced in the area. Most of the respondents are
dependent on farming as a main source of income.
A great majority of the respondents are aware and has already heard about organic
farming mostly from broadcast media, other sources are from their relatives, friends,
seminars given by the Department of Agriculture (DA), Agriculturist and farm Technicians
who are going in their place but only a few of them tried organic farming.
The main internal reason why most of these farmers did not practice organic
farming is because they have inadequate knowledge and it is not convenient to apply in
their area while the main external reason also are; there is no support from the government
in case the farmer’s farm failed and the farmers are already exposed to conventional
farming.
Organic farming is acceptable to almost all of the respondent and they are willing
to go into this kind of farming if the needed support will be given to them.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
Conclusions
Based on the findings of the study, the following conclusions were derived:
1. Organic farming is mostly heard in broadcast media;
2. Organic farming is not merely practiced in the area but is acceptable to the
people;
3. Inadequate knowledge and no support from the government in case the farm of
the farmers failed are the main reason of farmers in not adopting organic farming; and,
4. There is a potential for organic farming to be practiced by majority of the farmers
in the area as long as the needed support will be given to them.
Recommendations
From the conclusions, the following are recommended:
1. The Department of Agriculture and other concerned agencies must conduct more
seminars and give more information about organic farming for the people to be aware about
this farming system; and,
2. The support needed by the farmers should be provided in order for them to go
into organic farming. Technical support; financial support and marketing of the organic
product they produced are the support needed by the respondents in the area.
Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013
LITERATURE CITED
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Assessment on Farmers’ Acceptability of Organic Farming in Tuba, Benguet
PARAN, SHIRLY P. APRIL 2013