Philippine E-Journals

Aging Small Scale Coconut Farmers in Central Philippines -- Their Perspectives on Farming, Succession and Future Impact on the Local Ecology

Ernesto Go Yap

Discipline: Ecology

 

Abstract:

The goal of past administrations of the Philippine government was to enable the country to be self-sustainable in food production. This paper takes into study the coconut farmers; the country being a prime producer and exporter of coconuts. Many past and recent studies have shown that the coconut industry has often been beset with numerous problems and small scale coconut farmers are poor, with the causes ranging from lack of finance, technical assistance and socio-cultural factors. This study further explored the perspectives of small scale coconut farmers on the issues of aging and succession, obstacles and opportunities of farming, as well as the future impact on the local ecology. This study is conducted in the province of Negros Oriental, Municipality of Bacong, in Central Philippines. Qualitative methods were primarily used in the research, including a survey, key informant interviews, participant observation. The study revealed that family members currently involved in coconut farming are decreasing, and a significant number of families do not have members to succeed the parent-farmers, preferring to go for non-farming jobs. Farms are expected to be neglected.