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

Assessment of the Performance and Impact of an Agroforestry Project in llocos Norte

(Philippines), Master of Science in Environmental Studies (University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Thesis Abstract:

 

The Agroforestry Project component of the Program on Strengthening Applied Research and Training for the Development of Dry land Agriculture in llocos Norte, Philippines was studied to detennine the following: 1) the extent of participation of project participants and the factors affecting such participation; 2) the rate of survival of agroforestry crops and the biophysical factors affecting it; 3) the increase in income of participants, and; 4) the impact of project performance on sustainability, productivity, and equity.

Respondents were 13 percent (n= 34) of the total population (N= 451 ). Seventeen of them were fanner-cooperators of the agroforestry project. Data on soiI properties and survival rates of trees were taken from the demonstration site. Some information were taken from secondary sources. Descriptive statistics, correlation and regression, and percentage difference were used in the data analysis.

The factors that significantly affected the extent of participation were age, education, household size. and land size. Survival of the agroforestry crops was significantly affected by soil pH and the amount of phosphorus and potassium in the soil. Rainfall variation partly explained the variation in survival percentages. Species richness had no significant effect on the survival of agroforestry crops.

The increase in income of the respondents was found to be brought about by the increased income from the lowland farm and not from the agroforestry farm or from other livelihood activities of the project.

Results also showed that the project is ecologically sustainable, as indicated by the extent of soil and water conservation.

For the impact on productivity, there was a minimal increase in terms of income from agroforestry farms. Most of the respondents' income were derived from other on-farm activities in the lowland.

Equity in income distribution was found to have improved and based on the benefits received from the project, there was a relatively equitable income among all farmer-cooperators.