Upscaling Organic Agriculture System of La Trinidad, Benguet Farmers
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Jan 30, 2023
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Abstract
In Benguet, Philippines, farmers are shifting to organic agriculture (OA) for them to produce safe food. The objectives of the study are to: describe the production techniques employed by farmers and organizations; describe the marketing techniques employed by farmers and organizations; and identify their motivations in venturing into the organic farming system. The study was conducted in La Trinidad, Benguet. The study used mixed methods, employing both quantitative and qualitative methods The quantitative data was presented descriptively. As in exploratory studies, the qualitative data was presented narratively. Highlight results show that organic agriculture is driven by both men and women although documented narratives in the study show that women were the first ones to have initiated shifting to OA. Organizations were created and established to support OA. To upscale OA production techniques, the farmers identified and described several farming techniques and practices. The marketing techniques are identified and described to upscale OA. There were motivations as to why they ventured into OA such as health and wellness reasons; appreciation of responsible farming; and realization of various forms of empowerment. The documented practices and responses in the study are then recommended to be considered by organizations working on similar advocacy.
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References
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Sidchogan-Batani, R., & Ngina, K. (2011). Work and Well-being in Climate Change Scenarios: A Case of Farming Communities in Northern Philippines.” [Review of Work and Well-being in Climate Change Scenarios: A Case of Farming Communities in Northern Philippines.”]. Asia-Pacific Gender and Macroeconomics Quarterly Newsletter. Vol. 2, Issue 4.
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Spiggle, S. (1994). Analysis and Interpretation of Qualitative Data in Consumer Research. Journal of Consumer Research, 21(3): 491–503.
Stephenson, G., & Lev, L. (2015). Direct Marketing Introduction for Organic Farms [Review of Direct Marketing Introduction for Organic Farms]. https://Eorganic.org/Node/1693. Oregon State University.
Tal, A. (2018). Making Conventional Agriculture Environmentally Friendly: Moving beyond the Glorification of Organic Agriculture and the Demonization of Conventional Agriculture. Sustainability, 10(4): 1078.
Trauger, A. (2004). “Because they can do the work”: women farmers in sustainable agriculture in Pennsylvania, USA. Gender, Place & Culture, 11(2): 289–307.
United Nations. (2008). Best Practices for Organic Policy: What Developing Countries Can Do to Promote the Organic Agriculture Sector. UNEP UN Environment Programme. https://www.unep.org/resources/report/best-practices-organicpolicy-what-developing-countries-can-dopromote-organic
Veisi, H., Carolan, M.S., & Alipour, A. (2017). Exploring the motivations and problems of farmers for conversion to organic farming in Iran. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 15(3): 303–320.
Wollni, M., Lee, D.R., & Thies, J.E. (2008). Effects of participation in organic markets and farmerbased organizations on adoption of soil conservation practices among small-scale farmers in Honduras. 2008 Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2008, Orlando, Florida 6423, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association). https://ideas.repec.org/p/ags/aaea08/6423.html
Barański, M., Średnicka-Tober, D., Volakakis, N., Seal, C., Sanderson, R., Stewart, G. B., Benbrook, C., Biavati, B., Markellou, E., Giotis, C., Gromadzka-Ostrowska, J., Rembiałkowska, E., Skwarło-Sońta, K., Tahvonen, R., Janovská, D., Niggli, U., Nicot, P., & Leifert, C. (2014). Higher antioxidant and lower cadmium concentrations and lower incidence of pesticide residues in organically grown crops: a systematic literature review and meta-analyses. British Journal of Nutrition, 112(05), 794–811.
Batani, R.S. (2000). Taming the Market Forces: Conditions of Women Potato Farmers in Barangay Paoay, Atok. Tebtebba Foundation, Baguio City.
Bliss, K., Padel, S., Cullen, B., Ducottet, C., Mullender, S., Rasmussen, I. A., & Moeskops, B. (2019). Exchanging knowledge to improve organic arable farming: an evaluation of knowledge exchange tools with farmer groups across Europe. Organic Agriculture, 9(4): 383-398. https://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=US202000118848
Calvert, G.M., Karnik, J., Mehler, L., Beckman, J., Morrissey, B., Sievert, J., Barrett, R., Lackovic, M., Mabee, L., Schwartz, A., Mitchell, Y., & Moraga-McHaley. (2008). Acute pesticide poisoning among agricultural workers in the United States, 1998–2005. Am. J. Ind. Med., 51(12): 883–898.
Chagnon, M., Kreutzweiser, D., Mitchell, E.A.D., Morrissey, C.A., Noome, D.A., & Van der Sluijs, J.P. (2015). Risks of large-scale use of systemic insecticides to ecosystem functioning and services. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22, 119–134.
Creswell, J. (2014). Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches [Review of Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches]. (4th edition) Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE Publications.
Crowder, D.W., & Reganold, J.P. (2015). Financial competitiveness of organic agriculture on a global scale. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(24), 7611–7616.
Damalas, C.A. & Koutroubas, S.D. (2016). Farmers’ Exposure to Pesticides: Toxicity Types and Ways of Prevention. Toxics, 4(1): 1.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2014). The State of Food and Agriculture. United Nations-Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome.
Food and Agriculture Organization. (2018). Sustainable Food Systems: Concepts and framework.
https://www.fao.org/3/ca2079en/CA2079EN.pdf
Forouzani, M., Merdasi, G., Nargesi, Z., & Bakhtiari, Z. (2018). Factors affecting attitude of farmers toward organic farming in Khuzestand, Iran. Poljoprivreda i Sumarstvo, 64(1): 89-96.
Jayakarani, R., Hennink, M., Kiiti, N., Pillinger, M., & Jayakaran, R. (2012). Defining empowerment: perspectives from international development organisations. Development in Practice, 22(2): 202–215.
Läpple, D. (2013). Comparing attitudes and characteristics of organic, former organic and conventional farmers: Evidence from Ireland. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 28(4): 1-9. https://orgprints.org/id/eprint/22495/
Lindlof, T.R., & Taylor, B.C. (2010). Qualitative communication research methods. Sage, Thousand Oaks. https://www.worldcat.org/title/qualitativecommunication-research-methods/oclc/780825710
Marais, J.J., & Eiselen, R. (2017). Organic agriculture: The trade-off between financial and non-financial benefits. Journal of Economic and Financial Sciences, 9(1), 106–119.
Municipality of La Trinidad. (2014). La Trinidad Municipality Profile [Review of La Trinidad Municipality Profile].
https://Latrinidad.gov.ph/Wp-Content/Uploads/2015/08/1234.Pdf
Neumann, J. (2003). Farmers’ markets: Connecting citizens with local agriculture in British Columbia [Review of Farmers’ markets: Connecting citizens with local agriculture in British Columbia]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.
Nicolopoulou-Stamati, P., Maipas, S., Kotampasi, C., Stamatis, P., & Hens, L. (2016). Chemical Pesticides and Human Health: The Urgent Need for a New Concept in Agriculture. Frontiers in Public Health, 4(148). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2016.00148
Nguyen, H., Mortensen, S., & Pravalprukskul, P. (2019). Pathways for women’s empowerment in agriculture in South and Southeast Asia. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/publications/pathways-for-womensempowerment-in-agriculture-in-south-andsoutheast-asia/
Payán-Rentería, R., Garibay-Chavez, G., RangelAscencio, R., Preciado-Martinez, V., Munoz-Islas, L., Beltran-Miranda, C., Mena-Munguía, S., Suarez, L.F.J., Feria-Velasco, A., & De Celis, R. (2012). Effect of chronic pesticide exposure in farm workers of a Mexico community. Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health, 67(1): 22-30.
Relyea, R. (2005). The Impact of Insecticides and Herbicides on the Biodiversity and Productivity of Aquatic Communities. Ecological Applications, 15(2): 618-627.
Sidchogan-Batani, R., & Ngina, K. (2011). Work and Well-being in Climate Change Scenarios: A Case of Farming Communities in Northern Philippines.” [Review of Work and Well-being in Climate Change Scenarios: A Case of Farming Communities in Northern Philippines.”]. Asia-Pacific Gender and Macroeconomics Quarterly Newsletter. Vol. 2, Issue 4.
Sidchogan-Batani, R., Napaldet, J., Camfili, M., Gapasin, M., & Ngina, K. (2013). Negotiating Climate Change: Vulnerabilities and Resilience of Four Benguet Communities. BSU Research Journal, 69. http://portal.bsu.edu.ph:8083/index.php/BRJ/article/view/92
Sisto, I., & Furst, M. (2019). Why shall we consider the gender implications of biodiversity management? The role of women in the Mediterranean region [Review of Why shall we consider the gender implications of biodiversity management? The role of women in the Mediterranean region]. New Medit, 18(3): 109111.
Spiggle, S. (1994). Analysis and Interpretation of Qualitative Data in Consumer Research. Journal of Consumer Research, 21(3): 491–503.
Stephenson, G., & Lev, L. (2015). Direct Marketing Introduction for Organic Farms [Review of Direct Marketing Introduction for Organic Farms]. https://Eorganic.org/Node/1693. Oregon State University.
Tal, A. (2018). Making Conventional Agriculture Environmentally Friendly: Moving beyond the Glorification of Organic Agriculture and the Demonization of Conventional Agriculture. Sustainability, 10(4): 1078.
Trauger, A. (2004). “Because they can do the work”: women farmers in sustainable agriculture in Pennsylvania, USA. Gender, Place & Culture, 11(2): 289–307.
United Nations. (2008). Best Practices for Organic Policy: What Developing Countries Can Do to Promote the Organic Agriculture Sector. UNEP UN Environment Programme. https://www.unep.org/resources/report/best-practices-organicpolicy-what-developing-countries-can-dopromote-organic
Veisi, H., Carolan, M.S., & Alipour, A. (2017). Exploring the motivations and problems of farmers for conversion to organic farming in Iran. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 15(3): 303–320.
Wollni, M., Lee, D.R., & Thies, J.E. (2008). Effects of participation in organic markets and farmerbased organizations on adoption of soil conservation practices among small-scale farmers in Honduras. 2008 Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2008, Orlando, Florida 6423, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association). https://ideas.repec.org/p/ags/aaea08/6423.html