Assessing the sustainability and resilience of cacao-cased farming systems in Pili, Camarines Sur, the Philippines
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36782/apjsafe.v13i1.484Keywords:
cacao, climate-vulnerable, farming system, resilience, sustainabilityAbstract
Camarines Sur, located in the Bicol Region of the Philippines, is considered one of the most climate-vulnerable provinces. Despite this, it is a model for a robust and proactive disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) program. The province features a diverse agroecological landscape, ranging from hilly and rolling terrains to plains surrounding Mt. Isarog National Park, which covers an area of 10.112 hectares with an elevation reaching 1.966 meters above sea level. Farming systems include monocropping, intensive multiple cropping, and agroforestry, with sugarcane and corn on downslopes, groundnuts and vegetables on lower slopes, and irrigated or rainfed rice fields. The integration of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) is increasingly being explored as a means to enhance both the sustainability and resilience of these farming systems. This study aims to assess the sustainability and resilience of cacao cultivation at the farm level in Barangay Binanuanan, Pili, Camarines Sur. A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews with local government officials, focus group discussions with farmers, and a Strengths, Opportunities, and Challenges (SOC) analysis. Findings indicate that cacao farming contributes to economic sustainability, as most farmers benefit from diversified income sources, including off-farm employment and family financial support. Ecological sustainability is supported by cacao’s compatibility with existing farming practices. However, social resilience remains limited, as evidenced by the aging farming population and minimal youth engagement in agriculture. To strengthen overall system resilience, targeted interventions promoting youth participation and community engagement in cacao-based farming are recommended.
Downloads
References
Alho, C. F. B. V., da Silva, A. F., Hendriks, C. M. J., Stoorvogel, J. J., Oosterveer, P. J. M., & Smaling, E. M. A. (2021). Analysis of banana and cocoa export commodities in food system transformation, with special reference to certification schemes as drivers of change. Food Security, 13(6), 1555–1575. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-021-01219-y.
Armengot, L., Beltrán, M. J., Schneider, M., Simón, X., & Pérez-Neira, D. (2021). Food-energy-water nexus of different cacao production systems from a LCA approach. Journal of Cleaner Production, 304, 126941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126941.
Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI). (2017). Philippine Cacao Industry Roadmap.National Center for Biotechnology Information. 31.
Cabell, J. F., & Oelofse, M. (2012). An indicator framework for assessing agroecosystem resilience. Ecology and Society, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.5751/es-04666-170118.
Cocoa Market Review. (2017). International Cocoa Organization. Available: http://www.icco.org. Accessed on January 20, 2023.
Connor, D. J. (2013). Organically grown crops do not a cropping system make and nor can organic agriculture nearly feed the world. Field Crops Research, 144, 145–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2012.12.013.
Departemnt of Trade and industry (DTI). (2017). The Philippines in the Cocoa-Chocolate Global Value Chain. In Water International. (pp. 1-12). Available: http://industry.gov.ph/wpcontent/uploads/2017/11/DTI-Policy-Brief-2017-09-ThePhilippines-in-the-Cocoa-Chocolate-Global-Value-Chain.pdf, Accessed on January 20, 2023.
Lirag, Ma. T. B. (2021). Cost and Return Analysis of Small-scale Cacao (Theobroma cacao) Production in Camarines Sur, Philippines. Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International, 22(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.9734/jaeri/2021/v22i130178.
Luo, W., Chen, M., Kang, Y., Li, W., Li, D., Cui, Y., Khan, S., & Luo, Y. (2022). Analysis of crop water requirements and irrigation demands for rice: Implications for increasing effective rainfall. Agricultural Water Management, 260, 107285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2021.107285.
Nera, E., Paas, W., Reidsma, P., Paolini, G., Antonioli, F., & Severini, S. (2020). Assessing the resilience and sustainability of a hazelnut farming system in Central Italy with a participatory approach. Sustainability, 12(1), 343. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12010343.
Notaro, K. de A., Medeiros, E. V. de, Duda, G. P., Silva, A. O., & Moura, P. M. de. (2014). Agroforestry systems, nutrients in litter and microbial activity in soils cultivated with coffee at high altitude. Scientia Agricola, 71(2), 87–95. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0103-90162014000200001.
Nursalam, N., Budiman, K., Budiman, K., Prihantini, C. I., Hasbiadi, H., & Masitah, M. (2021). Efficiency comparison of the cacao intercropping farming in kolaka regency. AGRIEKONOMIKA, 10(2), 183–193. https://doi.org/10.21107/agriekonomika.v10i2.11090.
Philippine Statistics Authority. 2012. Census of Agriculture Philippines. 2020; https://psa.gov.ph/caf/id/162865.
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 2020. https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/2_SSA2020_final_signed.pdf Accessed on January 25, 2023.
Purnima, K. S., & Lalitha, A. (2022). Strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and challenges of online learning in agriculture. Gujarat Journal of Extension Education, 34(2), 60–65. https://doi.org/10.56572/gjoee.2022.34.2.0014.
Sandhu, H. S., Wratten, S. D., & Cullen, R. (2010). Organic agriculture and ecosystem services. Environmental Science & Policy, 13(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2009.11.002.
Saputro, W. A., Purnomo, S., & Salamah, U. (2021). Study of food waste of farmers’ households in Klaten to support food security. Anjoro: International Journal of Agriculture and Business, 2(2), 58–64. https://doi.org/10.31605/anjoro.v2i2.1166.
Scialabba, N. E.-H., & Müller-Lindenlauf, M. (2010). Organic agriculture and climate change. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 25(2), 158–169. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1742170510000116.
Singh, R. K., Singh, A., Zander, K. K., Mathew, S., & Kumar, A. (2021). Measuring successful processes of knowledge co-production for managing climate change and associated environmental stressors: Adaptation policies and practices to support Indian farmers. Journal of Environmental Management, 282, 111679. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111679.
Templer, N., Hauser, M., Owamani, A., Kamusingize, D., Ogwali, H., Mulumba, L., Onwonga, R., Adugna, B. T., & Probst, L. (2018). Does certified organic agriculture increase agroecosystem health? Evidence from four farming systems in Uganda. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 16(2), 150–166. https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2018.1440465.
Waha, K., Dietrich, J. P., Portmann, F. T., Siebert, S., Thornton, P. K., Bondeau, A., & Herrero, M. (2020). Multiple cropping systems of the world and the potential for increasing cropping intensity. Global Environmental Change, 64, 102131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2020.102131.
Zanmassou, Y. C., Al-Hassan, R. M., Mensah-Bonsu, A., Osei-Asare, Y. B., & Igue, C. B. (2020). Assessment of smallholder farmers’ adaptive capacity to climate change: Use of a mixed weighting scheme. Journal of Environmental Management, 276, 111275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111275.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Nurul Amri Komarudin, Eaint Thet Wai, Nusron Habibur Rohman, Leah Endonela
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
