In 1989, the Kapwa Upliftment Foundation, Inc. initiated an agroforestry component for its Malabog Comprehensive Livelihood and Health Promotion Project in Malabog, Davao City. The component was seen as complementary to its reforestation program in the area. In 1994, five years after, the Kapwa contracted the services of the UPLB Agroforestry Program (UAP) and the Social Development Research Center (SDRC) to assess the technical and socio-economic aspects of this agroforestry project.
The specific objectives of the assessment were: a) to assess selected existing agroforestry farms in Malabag and determine whether the technologies being practiced are technically appropriate, given the farm circumstances; b) to measure the degree of adoption or non-adoption of the agroforestry promoted by Kapwa based on certain farm indicators; c) to determine the principal factors that may have influenced the adoption/non-adoption of agroforestry technologies; and d) to formulate recommendations for future actions that may lead to further improvement and sustainability of agroforestry in the project area.
In undertaking this evaluation, the specific strategies used were: case studies, in-depth interviews of farmers, and household survey. A comprehensive farm assessment instrument was also used to provide a detailed characterization of the case farmers/farms.
Results:
In its promotion of the agroforestry component of its Program, Kapwa adopted a multi-pronged strategy. Its formal training courses consisting of classroom training and field or farm visits was backstopped by on-site technical support services, credit assistance through the community-based cooperatives and the provision of additional farm inputs. It introduced a system of developing farmer capabilities/extension skills through the introduction of re-echo seminars which are conducted by local farmers in their respective sitios, and farmer monitors who assist the Kapwa technicians, particularly in accessible areas of the project site.
Agroforestry Technologies. Kapwa conducted six phases of Agroforestry training, with each phase focusing on certain agroforeostry technologies. Over 80% of the farmers in the project area are agroforestry adoptors. A substantial number of the farmers adopted at least seven to nine agro-forestry techniques, majority of whom adopted contour farming because they saw it as beneficial. Contour hedgerows was adopted because it was a primary requirement for the cooperative's production loan. Among the technologies introduced, farm planning and adoption of soil and water conservation technologies had low adoption rates.
The farmers acknowledged that they learned about agroforestry technology through the Kapwa training. Some of them admitted though that several technologies were already part of their traditional farming practices.
Agroforestry Technology Adoption. The study identified several factors that enhanced technology adoption, and these are socio-economic factors, access to inputs and services and psycho-social factors. Constraints to technology adoption were also identified.
The study revealed that the farmer adoptors were the owner-cultivators, those who have no legal claim over their farms, and those who have lands in excess of their subsistence holdings. Replication of the agroforestry system was affected by the availability or non-availability of hired or some form of exchange labor.
One of the strong points of Kapwa was its provision of support services. It provided technical support services such as the assistance of technicians, availability of dryers and water catchment as well as incentives to farmer-participants and adoptors. Due to the limited number of technicians, and the size of the whole project area, Kapwa adopted a new scheme: Farmer monitors to promote agroforestry technologies, particularly in inaccessible areas within the project site. The incentives were found to motivate the farmers to attend trainings as well as adopt the technologies introduced; however, some farmers abandoned the technologies once they have received their incentives.
The study also showed that the most significant factor in the adoption and sustained practice of agroforestry, as highlighted in the farmer case studies, was the farmer's attitude and perception of value and meaning of the technology to him. Only technologies which were perceived to be of benefit to the farmer in terms of improved physical environment, increased production, and additional income were adopted.
Major constraints identified were the inadequate knowledge of farmers of agroforestry, and the labor-intensive nature of the technology.
Recommendations
Based on the results, the study forwarded some recommendations along the following areas: Appropriateness and viability of agroforestry technologies; training; strengthening of technical support services of the Malabag Parish Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Inc. (MPMPCI) and Saloy Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Inc. (SFMPCI); data requirements for the analysis of economic gains for agroforestry technology adopted, and other support services to sustain agroforestry initiatives.
