BIBLIOGRAPHY LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. ...
BIBLIOGRAPHY
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012. Coping Mechanisms of Swamp
Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet. Benguet State University, La
Trinidad, Benguet.
Adviser: Cunegunda D. Abellera, MSc
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to determine the socio-demographic profile of the swamp
farmers, the level of knowledge of the respondents toward climate change, the effects of
climate change to crop production and the coping mechanisms that the respondents
employed to counteract the effects of climate change.
The respondents of the study were composed of fifty (50) swamp farmers in La,
Trinidad, Benguet. Majority of them were males; married; with an average age of 46 years
old; and had finished elementary level. Respondents were engaged in farming for about 10
to 20 years and had major crop which was strawberry. The sources of their capital were
from the private financiers.
Results showed that the respondents were knowledgeable and aware in the impact
of climate change through watching television and hearing news from the radio.
The signs of climate change that were observed by the respondents in their farms
were the occurrence of strong typhoons, increased and decreased of temperature, increased
population of insect pests and diseases and smaller sizes of crops.
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
The effects of climate change experienced by the respondents in the study area
includes scarcity of water supply for irrigation during the occurrence of drought, rotting of
crops, increased population of pests and diseases and total destruction of their crops during
typhoons and floods.
Respondents had employed practices to cope up with the effects of drought,
changes in rainfall, typhoons and floods, changes in temperature and emergence of pests
and diseases by varietal selection, used of plastic tunneling, adjust planting season and used
chemicals to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Socio-demographic Profile of the Respondents
The socio-demographic profile of the respondents is presented in Table 1. There
were 44% with ages from 41 to51 years old; 26% belonged to the 52 to 62 years old bracket;
20% belonged to the 30 to 40 years old; and only 10% belonged to the age bracket 63 to73
years old.
Majority (70%) of the respondents were males and 30% were females as shown in
the same table. This indicates that farming is not only for males but also for females.
Majority of them (82%) were married; 14% were single; and 4%, widow. With regard to
the respondent’s educational attainment, 60% of them finished elementary level; 20%, high
school level; 14%, finished college level; and only few (4%) did not go to formal education.
This indicates that most of the respondents are literate and could easily adopt new situation
brought by climate change.
Table 1. Socio-demographic profile of the respondents
PARTICULAR
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Age
30-40
10
20
41-51
22
44
52-62
13
26
63-73
5
10
TOTAL
50
100
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
Table 1. Continued ………..
PARTICULAR
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Sex
Male
35
70
Female
15
30
TOTAL
50
100
Civil Status
Married
41
82
Single
7
14
Widow
2
4
TOTAL
50
100
Educational Attainment
Elementary
30
60
High School
11
22
No formal Schooling
2
4
TOTAL
50
100
Crop Produced by the Respondents
La Trinidad, Benguet is known to be the number one producer of fresh strawberries,
vegetables, and its processed products such as jams, wines and candies in the Philippines.
In order to meet all the demands in the market, majority (66%) of the respondents were
planting strawberry, as presented in Table 2. However, there were 22% of them chose to
plant lettuce which could be harvested after two months according to
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
them; 4% planted pechay and onions that could be harvested in less than a month while 2%
ventures in planting cabbage and statice cut flower. This implies that all the respondents
are maintaining food security to satisfy future demand under predicted climate change
scenarios.
Number of Years the Respondents in Farming
Table 3 shows that 64% of the respondents were engaged in farming for the past 10 to 20
years; 24 % who had been farming for 21 to 31 years; 10% were farming for 32 to 42 years;
and only 2% of them for about 43 to 53 years. This finding implies that respondents had
already enough experience in farming industry thus, have knowledge to identify indigenous
coping mechanisms against climate change.
Table 2. Crop produced by the respondents
CROP PRODUCED
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Strawberry
33
66
Lettuce
11
22
Pechay
2
4
Onions
2
4
Statice (Flower)
1
2
Cabbage
1
2
TOTAL
50
100
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
Table 3. Number of years the respondents in farming
NUMBER OF YEARS
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
10-20
32
64
21-31
12
24
32-42
5
10
43-53
1
2
TOTAL
50
100
Source of capital of the respondents. Table 4 shows that the respondents pulled out their
capital from the different sources. Majority (58%) of the respondents were financed by
private financiers like the suppliers or middlemen whom they brought their harvested
crops; 26% of them were able to finance their own farms if the respondents were able to
hit the high price the time they brought their harvested crops to the market.
Accordingly, the respondents are forced to borrow money from the private financiers
whenever they did not gain in the past cropping season whereas the 16% of the respondents
had cooperative loans. This indicates that the respondents are able to improve their food
production and local economic activity, at least in one or two cropping seasons a year.
Table 4. Source of capital of the respondents
SOURCE
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Private financing
29
58
Self-finance
13
26
Cooperative loan
8
16
TOTAL
50
100
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
Awareness on climate change. Table 5 reveals that 33(66%) of the respondents were
knowledgeable and aware in the impact of climate change in their environment; and
12(24%) of them were not aware and no idea about climate change. This finding shows
that the adverse effects of climate change are experienced by the farmer – respondents in
the study area but the few do not notice that there are geophysical changes related to climate
change like the global warming and the other negative and positive effects of climate
change.
As corroborated by Reynolds (2010) that the consequences of climate change and poverty
are not distributed uniformly within communities. Individual and social factors such as
gender, age, education, ethnicity, geography and language lead to differential vulnerability
and capacity to adapt to the effects of climate change.
Sources of Information.
As shown in Table 6, majority (52%) of the respondents were informed about
coping mechanisms toward climate change through watching television and hearing news
from the radio; 26% of them were informed by their neighbors; and 24% were reading
articles from the newspapers. Therefore, respondents were informed through the different
kinds of media as claimed by majority of them wherein they could easily adopt coping
mechanisms against negative effects of climate change in their area.
Table 5. Awareness on climate change
INFORMATION
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Aware
33
66
Not Aware
12
24
TOTAL
50
100
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
Table 6. Sources of information regarding climate change
SOURCES
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Radio
26
52
Television
26
52
Neighbors
13
26
Newspapers
12
24
*Multiple Responses
Signs of Climate Change (As observed by the respondents)
In Rainfall. With the changes that were happening in their surroundings particularly in
the occurrence of rain, respondents were able to point out signs of climate change as
shown in Table 7. Majority (80%) of the respondents noticed the occurrence of strong
typhoons, this means that the occurrence of storm in the locality was the main hindrance
in crop production; 68%, prolonged La Nina; 48%, early start of rainy season; 46%,
changes in rainfall pattern; and rainy weather during summer (16%). We all know, us
Filipinos, that in the Philippines, the rainfall pattern is from June to September but due to
climate change the rainfall is noticed abnormal.
In Temperature. Climate change affects temperature and temperature extremes. Majority
(54%) of the respondents felt that there was a sudden increases and decrease of temperature
as being experienced. Excessive increase of temperature during summer as claimed by 52%
of which according to the respondents that the heat is often unbearable. During the cold
season, particularly in the months of December, January, and February, there had been an
excessive decreased of temperature as observed by 34% of the respondents. This implies
that due to the observed changes, temperature had become unpredictable. As corroborated
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
by Espaldon (2009) that there has been a steady increase in global temperature brought
about by the greenhouse effect.
Presence of Pests and Diseases. The patterns of pests and diseases may change with
climate change as noted by Rosenweig and Hillel (1995). As shown in Table 7, the
respondents had noted that there had been an increase in population of pests and diseases
in the wrong cropping season, such as the spider mites that appeared during warm weather
but now appeared during cold weather.
In Crop Production. Table 7 shows that there had been changes observed in crop
production. The respondents, mostly those who planted strawberries and lettuce noticed
that their harvested crops become smaller in size (46%) compared to their harvest in their
first year of farming. The respondents (44%) had noticed a reductions in terms of their
yield.
Table 7. Signs of climate change as observed by the respondents
SIGNS
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Rainfall
Strong Typhoon
33
66
Prolonged La Nina
33
66
Early start of rainy season
24
48
Changes in rainfall pattern
23
46
Rainy weather during summer
8
16
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
Table 7. Continued ………..
SIGNS
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Temperature
Sudden increase and
27
54
decrease of temperature
Excessive increase of
26
52
temperature during
summer
Excessive decrease of
17
34
temperature in cold season
No signs observed
2
4
Presence of pests and diseases
Increase population of
33
66
insect pests and diseases
Occurrence of new pests
30
60
and diseases
No signs observed
4
8
Crop Production
Crops becomes smaller in
23
46
size
Low yield
22
44
No signs observed
10
20
*Multiple Responses
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
Effects of Climate Change to Crop Production
Effects of drought. As shown in Table 8, all (100%) of the respondents experienced
scarcity of water supply for irrigation during the occurrence of drought. This led to decrease
in quality of crops (70%) resulting to the abnormal sizes of the harvested crops; plants had
shorter life span (52%); cracking of soil (42%); and stunting of crops (20%) due to lack of
moisture. Due to drought, some (22%) of the respondents had noticed that the population
of pests and diseases had increased. This corroborates by Rosenzweig and Hillel (1995)
stated that increased evaporation from the soil and accelerated transpiration in the plants
that will cause moisture stress; as a result there will be a need to develop crop varieties
with greater drought tolerance.
Changes in rainfall. As shown in Table 8, rotting of crops (82%) was the major
effect of changes in rainfall as being encountered by the respondents. This also increases
the presence of pests and diseases (30%). Due to unpredictable climate, there had been
changes in planting pattern (28%); and changes in crop flowering (18%). This corroborates
with the study of Atuban and Ceba (2009) citing that agricultural pattern will change as the
weather changes because the farmers will have to adapt their planting and harvest pattern
depending on the weather.
Effects of typhoons and floods. Typhoons and floods had great effects on crop
production as shown in Table 8. Majority of the respondents (98%) claimed that most of
the crops planted were totally destroyed during typhoons and floods. These were
experienced by the respondents who had farms located on the low areas at swamp. Seventy
percent (70%) of the respondents claimed that they had no yield; 40%, were able to save
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
some of their crops but had poor yield. These were the respondents who had farms in the
higher elevation and were not affected by floods.
Changes in temperature. As shown in Table 8, majority (76%) of the respondents
had encountered an increase in population of pests and diseases due to changes in
temperature. Some other effects observed by the respondents were rotting of crops (36%);
crop dries up easily due to very high temperature (32%); changes in flowering of crops
(30%); and stunting of crops (8%). Higher temperatures cause heat stress in plants that will
make the plants grow less and produce less crops. Furthermore, very hot and very cold
weather can prevent a plant from setting blooms, and it can even cause the plant to start
dropping foliage. As cited by Rosenzweig and Hillel (1995), altered wind patterns may
change the spread of both wind-borne pests and of the bacteria and fungi that are the agents
of crop disease. Crop-pest interactions may shift as the timing of development stages in
both hosts and pests is altered.
Table 8. Effects of climate change to crop production
EFFECTS
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Drought
Scarcity of water supply for
50
100
irrigation
Decreased quality of fruits and
35
70
vegetables
Cracking of soils
21
42
Life span of plants become shorter
26
52
Increase population of pests and
11
22
diseases
Stunting of crops
10
20
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
Table 8. Continued ………….
EFFECTS
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Changes in Rainfall
Rotting of crops
41
82
Presence of pests and diseases
15
30
Changes in planting season
14
28
Affects crop flowering
9
18
Typhoons and Floods
Destruction of crops
49
98
No yield at all
35
70
Poor yield
20
40
Changes in Temperature
Increase population of pests and
38
76
diseases
Rotting of crops
18
36
Crop dries up easily due to very
16
32
high temperature
Changes in flowering of crops
15
30
No effect at all
6
12
Stunting of crops
4
8
*Multiple Responses
Coping Mechanisms of Farmers to Counteract the Effects of Climate Change
Drought. Table 9 shows the coping mechanisms employed by the respondents
during the occurrence of drought. Majority (66%) of the respondents selected the variety
of crops they are planting because, according to them, this will make sure that their crop
will survive inspite of the climate disturbances like the case of the lettuce growers in the
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
study area, they used the variety Condor XL which is suited most during the dry season.
Frequent irrigation was the simplest means by which the 48% of the respondents were able
to save their crops; 32% of the respondents were forced to dig up in the rivers and canals
in order to sustain the water needed by the crops; only 16 % of the respondents were
practicing cover cropping. Accordingly, when the cover crop is incorporated into the soil,
or left on the soil surface, it often increases soil moisture and it also helps to conserve water
by shading and cooling the soil surface. This reduces evaporation of soil moisture.
Changes in rainfall. As shown in Table 9, there were various ways of how the
respondents cope up with the effects of changes in rainfall. Majority (48%) of the
respondents particularly the strawberry growers were practicing plastic tunneling to secure
their crops from strong rains; 46% of them, varietal selection; 36%, adjusted their planting
season due to the altered patterns in rainfall; 18% of the respondents had employed crop
diversification that helps in enhancing income opportunities.
Typhoons and floods. As shown in Table 9, majority (46% ) of the respondents did
not employ coping mechanisms against typhoons and floods because their farms are
located in the low areas wherein susceptible to floods; 40% of them used plastic tunneling
to secure their crops; 34% tried to adjust their planting season; and only 16%, tried to plant
waterlogged resistant crop like the onion.
Emergence of pests and diseases. Majority of the respondents (56%) used
chemicals to combat pests and diseases of which they claimed the best remedy; 18%,
removal of affected crop and continuous irrigation to prevent the pests and diseases to
spread. As corroborated by Anonymous (2007) that in Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
has been adopted by the respondents to increase food production and reduce agro-chemical
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
pollution. Good farm management practices such as use of efficient Nitrogen fertilizer and
manure were also practiced by the respondents to improve farm yields, farm energy
efficiency, cover cropping, and development of local markets. The use of organic manure
reduces pollution, minimize flooding and enhance groundwater recharge. Some of the
organic composts used by the respondents like composted farm wastes and PCM
(Processed Chicken Manure) were incorporated into the soil to enhance soil fertility and
minimizes the occurrence of pests and diseases.
Table 9. Coping mechanisms of farmers to counteract the effects of climate change
COPING MECHANISMS
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Drought
Varietal Selection
33
66
Frequent irrigation
24
48
Digging of rivers and canals
16
32
Cover Cropping
8
16
No coping mechanisms
Employed
5
10
Changes in Rainfall
Varietal selection
23
46
Plastic tunneling
24
48
Adjust planting season
18
36
Crop diversification
9
18
Cover cropping
7
14
No coping mechanisms
4
8
employed
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
Table 9. Continued ………..
COPING MECHANISMS
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Typhoons and Floods
No coping mechanism
23
46
employed
Plastic Tunneling
20
40
Adjust Planting Season
17
34
Planting of Waterlogged
8
16
Resistant Crop
Emergence of Pests and Diseases
Uses Chemicals to kill pests
38
76
and diseases
Removal of affected crop
9
18
Frequent irrigation
9
18
*Multiple Responses
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
The study on the coping mechanisms of swamp farmers toward climate change in La
Trinidad, Benguet was conducted to determine the socio-demographic profile of the swamp
farmers, the level of knowledge of the respondents toward climate change, the effects of
climate change to crop production observed by the respondents and the coping mechanisms
that the respondents employed to counteract the effects of climate change.
The respondents of the study were composed of fifty (50) swamp farmers in La Trinidad,
Benguet. Majority of them were males; married; with an average age of 46 years old;
finished elementary level while only few of them did not undergo to formal education.
Majority of the respondents were engaged in farming for about 10 to 20 years and had
major crop which was strawberry. The source of their capital were from the private
financiers while others were able to finance their own farms.
Results showed that they were knowledgeable and aware in the impact of climate change
in their environment through watching television and hearing news from the radio as
claimed by majority of the respondents.
The signs of climate change that were observed by majority of the respondents particularly
in rainfall were the occurrence of strong typhoons and prolonged La Nina while some
noticed the changes in rainfall pattern. In temperature, majority of them felt that there was
a sudden increased and decreased of temperature and excessive increased of temperature
during summer. Also, the patterns of pests and diseases changed with climate change
wherein majority of the respondents had observed an increase in population of pests and
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
diseases in the wrong cropping season. The changes were observed in crop production too,
that the majority of the respondents noticed that their harvested crops became smaller in
size and reductions in terms of their yield.
The effects of climate change experienced by the farmers in the study area, all of them
noted the scarcity of water supply for irrigation during the occurrence of drought that led
to decrease in quality of crops, shorter life span of plants, cracking of soil and stunting of
crops. Also, the rotting of crops, increased population of pests and presence of diseases.
Typhoons and floods were observed that majority of the respondents considered had great
effects in crop production because it destroyed totally the crop whereas some were able to
save some of their crops.
Respondents had employed practices to cope up with the effects of climate change,
majority of the respondents selected the variety of crops to produce, the simplest means to
save their crops during the occurrence of drought, they irrigated frequently their farm from
the dug rivers and canals to sustain the water needed by the crops. Only few of the
respondents were practicing the cover cropping to increase soil moisture and to conserve
water in the soil surface. Majority of the respondents particularly the strawberry and lettuce
growers were practicing the plastic tunneling and the selection of crop variety hence, the
others had to adjust their planting season and had employed crop diversification due to the
altered patterns in rainfall.
Majority of the respondents had not employed any coping mechanisms against typhoons
and floods. But, there were some of the respondents that used plastic tunneling and had
tried to plant waterlogged resistant crop. Respondents used chemicals to combat pests and
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
diseases. The others claimed the removal of the affected crop and the continuous irrigation
to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.
Conclusions
Based on the findings, the following conclusions were derived:
1. Majority of the farmers were males; married; with an average age of 46 years old; had
finished elementary level; were engaged in farming for about 10-20 years; had major crops
of strawberry; and financed their farm by private financiers.
2. Respondents were aware in the impact of climate change in their environment through
watching television and hearing news from the radio.
3. Respondents had observed signs of climate change in their farms like strong typhoons,
sudden increased and decreased of temperature, increased population of insect pests and
diseases, and their crops became smaller in size.
4. The agricultural productivity of the respondents with climate change depressed by
increased climate variability and increased intensity and frequency of extreme events such
as drought, and strong typhoons and floods.
5. Respondents were able to employ different coping mechanisms to counteract the effects
of drought, changes in rainfall, typhoons and floods, changes in temperature and emergence
of pests and diseases by varietal selection, used plastic tunneling, adjust planting season,
and used chemicals to combat pests and diseases.
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
Recommendations
In line with the findings of the study, the following recommendations are forwarded:
1. The Local Government Units (LGU’s) should conduct a dialogue with the farmers to
keep them aware about the climate change issues and suggest innovative ways of adapting
to the climate change impacts.
2. Plant breeders and other agricultural researchers should develop drought and
waterlogged resistant variety of crops that can be produced in the area.
3. The farmers should be encouraged to pursue the practice of organic farming to reduce
pollution, minimize flooding and enhance groundwater recharge.
4. The Local Government Unit in cooperation with the Benguet State University should
provide water impounding system to sustain the irrigation in the farm which is the major
problem during the occurrence of drought.
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
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Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012. Coping Mechanisms of Swamp
Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet. Benguet State University, La
Trinidad, Benguet.
Adviser: Cunegunda D. Abellera, MSc
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to determine the socio-demographic profile of the swamp
farmers, the level of knowledge of the respondents toward climate change, the effects of
climate change to crop production and the coping mechanisms that the respondents
employed to counteract the effects of climate change.
The respondents of the study were composed of fifty (50) swamp farmers in La,
Trinidad, Benguet. Majority of them were males; married; with an average age of 46 years
old; and had finished elementary level. Respondents were engaged in farming for about 10
to 20 years and had major crop which was strawberry. The sources of their capital were
from the private financiers.
Results showed that the respondents were knowledgeable and aware in the impact
of climate change through watching television and hearing news from the radio.
The signs of climate change that were observed by the respondents in their farms
were the occurrence of strong typhoons, increased and decreased of temperature, increased
population of insect pests and diseases and smaller sizes of crops.
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
The effects of climate change experienced by the respondents in the study area
includes scarcity of water supply for irrigation during the occurrence of drought, rotting of
crops, increased population of pests and diseases and total destruction of their crops during
typhoons and floods.
Respondents had employed practices to cope up with the effects of drought,
changes in rainfall, typhoons and floods, changes in temperature and emergence of pests
and diseases by varietal selection, used of plastic tunneling, adjust planting season and used
chemicals to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Socio-demographic Profile of the Respondents
The socio-demographic profile of the respondents is presented in Table 1. There
were 44% with ages from 41 to51 years old; 26% belonged to the 52 to 62 years old bracket;
20% belonged to the 30 to 40 years old; and only 10% belonged to the age bracket 63 to73
years old.
Majority (70%) of the respondents were males and 30% were females as shown in
the same table. This indicates that farming is not only for males but also for females.
Majority of them (82%) were married; 14% were single; and 4%, widow. With regard to
the respondent’s educational attainment, 60% of them finished elementary level; 20%, high
school level; 14%, finished college level; and only few (4%) did not go to formal education.
This indicates that most of the respondents are literate and could easily adopt new situation
brought by climate change.
Table 1. Socio-demographic profile of the respondents
PARTICULAR
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Age
30-40
10
20
41-51
22
44
52-62
13
26
63-73
5
10
TOTAL
50
100
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
Table 1. Continued ………..
PARTICULAR
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Sex
Male
35
70
Female
15
30
TOTAL
50
100
Civil Status
Married
41
82
Single
7
14
Widow
2
4
TOTAL
50
100
Educational Attainment
Elementary
30
60
High School
11
22
No formal Schooling
2
4
TOTAL
50
100
Crop Produced by the Respondents
La Trinidad, Benguet is known to be the number one producer of fresh strawberries,
vegetables, and its processed products such as jams, wines and candies in the Philippines.
In order to meet all the demands in the market, majority (66%) of the respondents were
planting strawberry, as presented in Table 2. However, there were 22% of them chose to
plant lettuce which could be harvested after two months according to
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
them; 4% planted pechay and onions that could be harvested in less than a month while 2%
ventures in planting cabbage and statice cut flower. This implies that all the respondents
are maintaining food security to satisfy future demand under predicted climate change
scenarios.
Number of Years the Respondents in Farming
Table 3 shows that 64% of the respondents were engaged in farming for the past 10 to 20
years; 24 % who had been farming for 21 to 31 years; 10% were farming for 32 to 42 years;
and only 2% of them for about 43 to 53 years. This finding implies that respondents had
already enough experience in farming industry thus, have knowledge to identify indigenous
coping mechanisms against climate change.
Table 2. Crop produced by the respondents
CROP PRODUCED
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Strawberry
33
66
Lettuce
11
22
Pechay
2
4
Onions
2
4
Statice (Flower)
1
2
Cabbage
1
2
TOTAL
50
100
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
Table 3. Number of years the respondents in farming
NUMBER OF YEARS
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
10-20
32
64
21-31
12
24
32-42
5
10
43-53
1
2
TOTAL
50
100
Source of capital of the respondents. Table 4 shows that the respondents pulled out their
capital from the different sources. Majority (58%) of the respondents were financed by
private financiers like the suppliers or middlemen whom they brought their harvested
crops; 26% of them were able to finance their own farms if the respondents were able to
hit the high price the time they brought their harvested crops to the market.
Accordingly, the respondents are forced to borrow money from the private financiers
whenever they did not gain in the past cropping season whereas the 16% of the respondents
had cooperative loans. This indicates that the respondents are able to improve their food
production and local economic activity, at least in one or two cropping seasons a year.
Table 4. Source of capital of the respondents
SOURCE
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Private financing
29
58
Self-finance
13
26
Cooperative loan
8
16
TOTAL
50
100
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
Awareness on climate change. Table 5 reveals that 33(66%) of the respondents were
knowledgeable and aware in the impact of climate change in their environment; and
12(24%) of them were not aware and no idea about climate change. This finding shows
that the adverse effects of climate change are experienced by the farmer – respondents in
the study area but the few do not notice that there are geophysical changes related to climate
change like the global warming and the other negative and positive effects of climate
change.
As corroborated by Reynolds (2010) that the consequences of climate change and poverty
are not distributed uniformly within communities. Individual and social factors such as
gender, age, education, ethnicity, geography and language lead to differential vulnerability
and capacity to adapt to the effects of climate change.
Sources of Information.
As shown in Table 6, majority (52%) of the respondents were informed about
coping mechanisms toward climate change through watching television and hearing news
from the radio; 26% of them were informed by their neighbors; and 24% were reading
articles from the newspapers. Therefore, respondents were informed through the different
kinds of media as claimed by majority of them wherein they could easily adopt coping
mechanisms against negative effects of climate change in their area.
Table 5. Awareness on climate change
INFORMATION
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Aware
33
66
Not Aware
12
24
TOTAL
50
100
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
Table 6. Sources of information regarding climate change
SOURCES
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Radio
26
52
Television
26
52
Neighbors
13
26
Newspapers
12
24
*Multiple Responses
Signs of Climate Change (As observed by the respondents)
In Rainfall. With the changes that were happening in their surroundings particularly in
the occurrence of rain, respondents were able to point out signs of climate change as
shown in Table 7. Majority (80%) of the respondents noticed the occurrence of strong
typhoons, this means that the occurrence of storm in the locality was the main hindrance
in crop production; 68%, prolonged La Nina; 48%, early start of rainy season; 46%,
changes in rainfall pattern; and rainy weather during summer (16%). We all know, us
Filipinos, that in the Philippines, the rainfall pattern is from June to September but due to
climate change the rainfall is noticed abnormal.
In Temperature. Climate change affects temperature and temperature extremes. Majority
(54%) of the respondents felt that there was a sudden increases and decrease of temperature
as being experienced. Excessive increase of temperature during summer as claimed by 52%
of which according to the respondents that the heat is often unbearable. During the cold
season, particularly in the months of December, January, and February, there had been an
excessive decreased of temperature as observed by 34% of the respondents. This implies
that due to the observed changes, temperature had become unpredictable. As corroborated
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
by Espaldon (2009) that there has been a steady increase in global temperature brought
about by the greenhouse effect.
Presence of Pests and Diseases. The patterns of pests and diseases may change with
climate change as noted by Rosenweig and Hillel (1995). As shown in Table 7, the
respondents had noted that there had been an increase in population of pests and diseases
in the wrong cropping season, such as the spider mites that appeared during warm weather
but now appeared during cold weather.
In Crop Production. Table 7 shows that there had been changes observed in crop
production. The respondents, mostly those who planted strawberries and lettuce noticed
that their harvested crops become smaller in size (46%) compared to their harvest in their
first year of farming. The respondents (44%) had noticed a reductions in terms of their
yield.
Table 7. Signs of climate change as observed by the respondents
SIGNS
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Rainfall
Strong Typhoon
33
66
Prolonged La Nina
33
66
Early start of rainy season
24
48
Changes in rainfall pattern
23
46
Rainy weather during summer
8
16
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
Table 7. Continued ………..
SIGNS
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Temperature
Sudden increase and
27
54
decrease of temperature
Excessive increase of
26
52
temperature during
summer
Excessive decrease of
17
34
temperature in cold season
No signs observed
2
4
Presence of pests and diseases
Increase population of
33
66
insect pests and diseases
Occurrence of new pests
30
60
and diseases
No signs observed
4
8
Crop Production
Crops becomes smaller in
23
46
size
Low yield
22
44
No signs observed
10
20
*Multiple Responses
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
Effects of Climate Change to Crop Production
Effects of drought. As shown in Table 8, all (100%) of the respondents experienced
scarcity of water supply for irrigation during the occurrence of drought. This led to decrease
in quality of crops (70%) resulting to the abnormal sizes of the harvested crops; plants had
shorter life span (52%); cracking of soil (42%); and stunting of crops (20%) due to lack of
moisture. Due to drought, some (22%) of the respondents had noticed that the population
of pests and diseases had increased. This corroborates by Rosenzweig and Hillel (1995)
stated that increased evaporation from the soil and accelerated transpiration in the plants
that will cause moisture stress; as a result there will be a need to develop crop varieties
with greater drought tolerance.
Changes in rainfall. As shown in Table 8, rotting of crops (82%) was the major
effect of changes in rainfall as being encountered by the respondents. This also increases
the presence of pests and diseases (30%). Due to unpredictable climate, there had been
changes in planting pattern (28%); and changes in crop flowering (18%). This corroborates
with the study of Atuban and Ceba (2009) citing that agricultural pattern will change as the
weather changes because the farmers will have to adapt their planting and harvest pattern
depending on the weather.
Effects of typhoons and floods. Typhoons and floods had great effects on crop
production as shown in Table 8. Majority of the respondents (98%) claimed that most of
the crops planted were totally destroyed during typhoons and floods. These were
experienced by the respondents who had farms located on the low areas at swamp. Seventy
percent (70%) of the respondents claimed that they had no yield; 40%, were able to save
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
some of their crops but had poor yield. These were the respondents who had farms in the
higher elevation and were not affected by floods.
Changes in temperature. As shown in Table 8, majority (76%) of the respondents
had encountered an increase in population of pests and diseases due to changes in
temperature. Some other effects observed by the respondents were rotting of crops (36%);
crop dries up easily due to very high temperature (32%); changes in flowering of crops
(30%); and stunting of crops (8%). Higher temperatures cause heat stress in plants that will
make the plants grow less and produce less crops. Furthermore, very hot and very cold
weather can prevent a plant from setting blooms, and it can even cause the plant to start
dropping foliage. As cited by Rosenzweig and Hillel (1995), altered wind patterns may
change the spread of both wind-borne pests and of the bacteria and fungi that are the agents
of crop disease. Crop-pest interactions may shift as the timing of development stages in
both hosts and pests is altered.
Table 8. Effects of climate change to crop production
EFFECTS
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Drought
Scarcity of water supply for
50
100
irrigation
Decreased quality of fruits and
35
70
vegetables
Cracking of soils
21
42
Life span of plants become shorter
26
52
Increase population of pests and
11
22
diseases
Stunting of crops
10
20
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
Table 8. Continued ………….
EFFECTS
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Changes in Rainfall
Rotting of crops
41
82
Presence of pests and diseases
15
30
Changes in planting season
14
28
Affects crop flowering
9
18
Typhoons and Floods
Destruction of crops
49
98
No yield at all
35
70
Poor yield
20
40
Changes in Temperature
Increase population of pests and
38
76
diseases
Rotting of crops
18
36
Crop dries up easily due to very
16
32
high temperature
Changes in flowering of crops
15
30
No effect at all
6
12
Stunting of crops
4
8
*Multiple Responses
Coping Mechanisms of Farmers to Counteract the Effects of Climate Change
Drought. Table 9 shows the coping mechanisms employed by the respondents
during the occurrence of drought. Majority (66%) of the respondents selected the variety
of crops they are planting because, according to them, this will make sure that their crop
will survive inspite of the climate disturbances like the case of the lettuce growers in the
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
study area, they used the variety Condor XL which is suited most during the dry season.
Frequent irrigation was the simplest means by which the 48% of the respondents were able
to save their crops; 32% of the respondents were forced to dig up in the rivers and canals
in order to sustain the water needed by the crops; only 16 % of the respondents were
practicing cover cropping. Accordingly, when the cover crop is incorporated into the soil,
or left on the soil surface, it often increases soil moisture and it also helps to conserve water
by shading and cooling the soil surface. This reduces evaporation of soil moisture.
Changes in rainfall. As shown in Table 9, there were various ways of how the
respondents cope up with the effects of changes in rainfall. Majority (48%) of the
respondents particularly the strawberry growers were practicing plastic tunneling to secure
their crops from strong rains; 46% of them, varietal selection; 36%, adjusted their planting
season due to the altered patterns in rainfall; 18% of the respondents had employed crop
diversification that helps in enhancing income opportunities.
Typhoons and floods. As shown in Table 9, majority (46% ) of the respondents did
not employ coping mechanisms against typhoons and floods because their farms are
located in the low areas wherein susceptible to floods; 40% of them used plastic tunneling
to secure their crops; 34% tried to adjust their planting season; and only 16%, tried to plant
waterlogged resistant crop like the onion.
Emergence of pests and diseases. Majority of the respondents (56%) used
chemicals to combat pests and diseases of which they claimed the best remedy; 18%,
removal of affected crop and continuous irrigation to prevent the pests and diseases to
spread. As corroborated by Anonymous (2007) that in Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
has been adopted by the respondents to increase food production and reduce agro-chemical
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
pollution. Good farm management practices such as use of efficient Nitrogen fertilizer and
manure were also practiced by the respondents to improve farm yields, farm energy
efficiency, cover cropping, and development of local markets. The use of organic manure
reduces pollution, minimize flooding and enhance groundwater recharge. Some of the
organic composts used by the respondents like composted farm wastes and PCM
(Processed Chicken Manure) were incorporated into the soil to enhance soil fertility and
minimizes the occurrence of pests and diseases.
Table 9. Coping mechanisms of farmers to counteract the effects of climate change
COPING MECHANISMS
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Drought
Varietal Selection
33
66
Frequent irrigation
24
48
Digging of rivers and canals
16
32
Cover Cropping
8
16
No coping mechanisms
Employed
5
10
Changes in Rainfall
Varietal selection
23
46
Plastic tunneling
24
48
Adjust planting season
18
36
Crop diversification
9
18
Cover cropping
7
14
No coping mechanisms
4
8
employed
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
Table 9. Continued ………..
COPING MECHANISMS
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
Typhoons and Floods
No coping mechanism
23
46
employed
Plastic Tunneling
20
40
Adjust Planting Season
17
34
Planting of Waterlogged
8
16
Resistant Crop
Emergence of Pests and Diseases
Uses Chemicals to kill pests
38
76
and diseases
Removal of affected crop
9
18
Frequent irrigation
9
18
*Multiple Responses
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
The study on the coping mechanisms of swamp farmers toward climate change in La
Trinidad, Benguet was conducted to determine the socio-demographic profile of the swamp
farmers, the level of knowledge of the respondents toward climate change, the effects of
climate change to crop production observed by the respondents and the coping mechanisms
that the respondents employed to counteract the effects of climate change.
The respondents of the study were composed of fifty (50) swamp farmers in La Trinidad,
Benguet. Majority of them were males; married; with an average age of 46 years old;
finished elementary level while only few of them did not undergo to formal education.
Majority of the respondents were engaged in farming for about 10 to 20 years and had
major crop which was strawberry. The source of their capital were from the private
financiers while others were able to finance their own farms.
Results showed that they were knowledgeable and aware in the impact of climate change
in their environment through watching television and hearing news from the radio as
claimed by majority of the respondents.
The signs of climate change that were observed by majority of the respondents particularly
in rainfall were the occurrence of strong typhoons and prolonged La Nina while some
noticed the changes in rainfall pattern. In temperature, majority of them felt that there was
a sudden increased and decreased of temperature and excessive increased of temperature
during summer. Also, the patterns of pests and diseases changed with climate change
wherein majority of the respondents had observed an increase in population of pests and
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
diseases in the wrong cropping season. The changes were observed in crop production too,
that the majority of the respondents noticed that their harvested crops became smaller in
size and reductions in terms of their yield.
The effects of climate change experienced by the farmers in the study area, all of them
noted the scarcity of water supply for irrigation during the occurrence of drought that led
to decrease in quality of crops, shorter life span of plants, cracking of soil and stunting of
crops. Also, the rotting of crops, increased population of pests and presence of diseases.
Typhoons and floods were observed that majority of the respondents considered had great
effects in crop production because it destroyed totally the crop whereas some were able to
save some of their crops.
Respondents had employed practices to cope up with the effects of climate change,
majority of the respondents selected the variety of crops to produce, the simplest means to
save their crops during the occurrence of drought, they irrigated frequently their farm from
the dug rivers and canals to sustain the water needed by the crops. Only few of the
respondents were practicing the cover cropping to increase soil moisture and to conserve
water in the soil surface. Majority of the respondents particularly the strawberry and lettuce
growers were practicing the plastic tunneling and the selection of crop variety hence, the
others had to adjust their planting season and had employed crop diversification due to the
altered patterns in rainfall.
Majority of the respondents had not employed any coping mechanisms against typhoons
and floods. But, there were some of the respondents that used plastic tunneling and had
tried to plant waterlogged resistant crop. Respondents used chemicals to combat pests and
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
diseases. The others claimed the removal of the affected crop and the continuous irrigation
to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.
Conclusions
Based on the findings, the following conclusions were derived:
1. Majority of the farmers were males; married; with an average age of 46 years old; had
finished elementary level; were engaged in farming for about 10-20 years; had major crops
of strawberry; and financed their farm by private financiers.
2. Respondents were aware in the impact of climate change in their environment through
watching television and hearing news from the radio.
3. Respondents had observed signs of climate change in their farms like strong typhoons,
sudden increased and decreased of temperature, increased population of insect pests and
diseases, and their crops became smaller in size.
4. The agricultural productivity of the respondents with climate change depressed by
increased climate variability and increased intensity and frequency of extreme events such
as drought, and strong typhoons and floods.
5. Respondents were able to employ different coping mechanisms to counteract the effects
of drought, changes in rainfall, typhoons and floods, changes in temperature and emergence
of pests and diseases by varietal selection, used plastic tunneling, adjust planting season,
and used chemicals to combat pests and diseases.
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
Recommendations
In line with the findings of the study, the following recommendations are forwarded:
1. The Local Government Units (LGU’s) should conduct a dialogue with the farmers to
keep them aware about the climate change issues and suggest innovative ways of adapting
to the climate change impacts.
2. Plant breeders and other agricultural researchers should develop drought and
waterlogged resistant variety of crops that can be produced in the area.
3. The farmers should be encouraged to pursue the practice of organic farming to reduce
pollution, minimize flooding and enhance groundwater recharge.
4. The Local Government Unit in cooperation with the Benguet State University should
provide water impounding system to sustain the irrigation in the farm which is the major
problem during the occurrence of drought.
Coping Mechanisms of Swamp Farmers Toward Climate Change in La Trinidad, Benguet |
LA-ONGAN, JUDY ROSE B. APRIL 2012
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