Implementing Agricultural

Development Programs: Lessons

From a Fifth Class Municipality

Rowena DT. Baconguis

Associate Professor, UPLB
Outline of the Presentation
 The Context of Extension

 The Study Area

 Objectives and methodology

 Findings

 Conclusions

 Implications and Recommendation

The Context of Extension
Extension and Rural
Development
 The role of human
capital formation is
fundamental to
development

Extension plays pivotal

role in human capital
formation and agricultural
and rural development
 Meaning of Extension

Educational Communication
Dimension Dimension

Develop and induce novel patterns of

coordination and adjustment between
people, natural phenomena,
technological devices

Resolve problematic situations

 LGC of 1991 Sec. 17: Roles of LGUs
Provincial Municipal Barangay
Extension and on site research Extension and on Distribution
services site research of planting
services materials
Prevention and control of plant Dispersals of

and animal pests and diseases materials, Operation of

medicinal plants, farm produce
Dairy farms, livestock markets, fruit trees
collection and
animal breeding stations, AI buying
centers Demonstration
stations
farm
Assistance in organization of
Quality control of
farmers and fishermen’s copra
cooperatives and other
organization Improvement of
distribution
Transfer of appropriate
channels
technology
Conservation
projects
 RA 8435 AFMA
Definition of Extension
Training,
information and
support services

Improve technical,
business and social
capabilities
 The Context

Extension

Systems and Governance

 CSOs

Specialized
Agencies Partnership

Delegation
Central Devolution LGUs
government
Privatization

Deconcentration
Private
Sector
Peripheral units
of the Central
Government
 Participation
Features Arnstein Deshler Pretty UNDP WB
and Sock

Control Manipulation Domestication Manipulative Manipulation Information

sharing
by Therapy Passive Information
outsiders Information Assistencialism Consultation Consultation
Consultation
Consultation Material
Incentives
Placation
Functional

Joint Partnership Cooperation Interactive Consensus Joint

building Decision
control making
Decision
Delegated
making
power
Risk sharing
Partnership

Controlle Citizen Empowerment Self- Self Initiation and

Control Mobilization management Control by
d by stakeholders
insiders
 For

Empowered
From stakeholders
To

Provider of Partnership Through

Services Builder

Capacity
building,
Community
engagement
The Study Area
Magdalena, Laguna
 5th class
municipality

 At the foot of
Mt. Banahaw,
30 meters
above sea level
 93% involved in
agriculture

88% of total 10.73 % of

agricultural land agricultural land
Objectives
• Identify extension programs, policies and
projects, implementation processes in
the last five years

• Determine commonalities of issues and

challenges of individual agriculture
based projects

• Determine effects of municipal led

agriculture projects in household level of
target beneficiaries in terms of
improvement in income, farming
practices, empowerment
Data Gathering Tools and Techniques
Secondary
data review SSIs

with key

informants

Interviews

Observation

Analysis of FGD

information

FGD
Workshops
(validation, revision)

Finalization

Report Writing
 Key Informant Interviews

 Antonio Cabantog, Municipal Treasurer

 Former MAO: Flaviano M. Del Valle
 Selected farmers on volunteerism
Field Work Observations
•OMAG, Slaughter house, Demonstration farm
•Swine partners
•Vegetable partners
•Rice Farmers
FGD: 10 farmer volunteers. OMAG Staff
Interview : 143 Farmer Respondents
 Questionnaire
 13 pages divided into:
 profile of respondents
 personal and collective social and political
activities (participation and capabilities)

 Sustainability of farming practices (pest and soil,

evaluation of farming as an occupation)
 Perceived farm prosperity (savings, allocation of
income, improvement, rating of HH in terms of
being well off)
 Perceived food security
Summary of Findings
 Objectives 1 and 2

The Municipal Agriculture Office

 Staff Complement

 Municipal agriculturist
 1 agricultural technician
 1 casual technician
 2 utility workers
 2 contractual technicians
(depending on budget)
 Philosophy and Principle

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3214/2511354906_368116a5da.jpg

 Total Family  Partnership

Approach
 Facilities

 Farmer's training center

 Slaughter house
 Rice mill
 Flat bed dryer
 Vegetable and rice techno demo
 Truck for rice trading activities
 Financial Strategies
Amount Project Source of Funds
5,000,000 Lending for rice, corn, Office of the President: CIDSS
vegetables and program originally interest free,
livestock farmers reconceptualized in 2004 with
6% interest per annum
1,000,000 Isuzu truck (350,000) Loan from the Presidential
and rice trading Social Fund: One Town, One
(650,000) Produce One Million Project
1,000,000 Construction of Grant from the Department of
Bodega and rice mill, Agriculture
capacity of 80-100
cavans
250,000 Construction of flat Solicitation from Rep. Liza Masa
bed dryer (technical and other citizens
support from PhilRice
and BPHRE)
Programs: done in partnership,
problems in governance

 Rice: techno demo, FFS, subsidy,

loan program

 Corn: techno demo, subsidy,

loan program, farmer
organization

 Vegetables: techno demo,

subsidy, loan program, lakbay
aral

 Swine: FFS, loan program, tech

support in value chain
Objective 3: Effect
 Indicators of Agricultural Growth: AFMA Goals

Food Farmer Empowerment Sustainability

Security
Are they eating well?
• (Cornell-Radimer
Questionnaire)
• (Household Dietary
Diversity Score, USAID)
Prosperity
Are they better off
financially?
(change in net income from 2004-
2006, ability to save)
Do they have individual
and collective voice?
resource exchange,
information, fund sourcing,
conflict mgt, and peer relation
Are their farming practices
sustainable?
(use of soil and pest alternative
management techniques)

(capability to finance operations,
ability to pay debts)
(individual: 11 questions on
rated on three point scale)
Is farming a desirable
occupation?
Collective: six questions rated
on three point scale)
Perceived Food Sufficiency
 Issue on variety and adequacy

– Lowest kinds of food group

consumed:

 Vitamin A enriched
 Milk and milk products
 Green leafy vegetables

– 40% said they have run out of

food

 Home garden not diverse

Farmer Prosperity
 Most borrow money to finance farm
operations and are able to pay

 Most are unable to save money

 Income from farming highly variable

 Most engage in other income

generating activities, income from
half hectare not enough to support a
family of six
 Empowerment
 Most participate in project
implementation

 2 farmer initiated projects

– Lakbay aral
– Rice techno demo

 Better individual rather than social

and political capabilities
 Sustainability

 Mono cropping and use of inorganic

fertilizers
 Majority rely more on credit and
savings to finance their farm
operations
 Majority consider farming as a fall
back position and most want their
children to be employed
Conclusions
 Extension

 Being a 5th class municipality is not a

hindrance

 Extension has moved beyond technology

transfer
 Enterprise Development
and Micro lending

 Enterprise Development Possible,

desirable

 Micro lending problematic

 Program Management

 Havinga philosophy and proactive

leadership is important

 Rules and policies should be made

clear from the beginning
– Lending
– dairy
 Project Management
 Starting
with what farmers know is
important (corn project)

 Providinga seed shelf package of

support is necessary

 Monitoring and evaluation should be

instituted to be able to attribute
effects (i.e. cattle program)
Selected
Implications and Recommendations
 Programs
• Important:

– Understanding of development, market,

livelihood diversification

– innovative undertakings beyond

agriculture (Korean model)
 Governance

Understanding of (AFMA) goals

Emphasis on participation, partnership

Emphasis on monitoring and

evaluation
 Governance: Policy Implications

 Reconsider the province as the unit

of agricultural development planning
and implementation (scale and
funding matters)