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Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) - Call for papers!

Systems Approach to Exploratory Analysis of Agricultural Land Use Options at the Municipal Level

(Philippines), Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science (University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Dissertation Abstract:

 

To resolve land use analysis and planning issues toward sustainable resource management at the municipal level, a land use planning analysis system (LUPAS) framework developed at the provincial level was modified and applied in Bay, Laguna, the case study area, to test its capability and applicability at the municipal level planning.

The systems approach for land use and analysis planning (SALUAP) framework used consists of five components, four databases, and one auxiliary component (i.e., geographic information system).

The goals and objectives of Bay to increase farmers’ net income, ensure food security, and manage natural resources in the next 10 years subject to 723 ha agricultural land conversion, 3.1 percent annual population growth, available water, current production rate, and current prices of inputs and output were developed into a multiple goal linear program (MGLP) model. Objective functions were optimized for year 2005 and 2015 development scenario. Considering the agricultural modernization and intensification impacts to the environment, the high cost of agricultural inputs and low price of outputs, social acceptability and other concerns, and analysis and evaluation of the resulting land use options and allocations showed that Bay’s development plan to modernize agricultural production and massive hybrid rice introduction will not be met. Instead, promoting and supporting the current land use types that require less fertilizer and pesticide inputs, optimizing available labor, providing higher net income, and enhancing ecological services of the production systems should be done. The land use types consisted mainly of ornamental production (237 ha) and fingerling production (159 ha) in the lowland areas and coconut-based multiple cropping systems (891 ha) in the upland areas. Rice production should not be totally ignored as it provides food security to some extent to the locals; however, ecologically appropriate and economically profitable technology should be introduced.

Results showed that SALUAP framework could be used in the exploratory land use options analysis at the municipal level. Decision makers and planners in conducting a more objective agricultural land use planning could use the quantitative results of this study not only in making agricultural land use plans but also in making comprehensive municipal land use plans.