Showing posts with label loss of arable land. Show all posts
Showing posts with label loss of arable land. Show all posts
Effects of land-use conversion on local agriculture: The case of Cavite, Philippines
For years, the Philippines’ bid toward NIChood has been invariably transforming
the once serene rural landscape into a bustling hub of human activity, inducing the
massive conversion of hundreds of hectares of productive farmlands into various urban
uses. Unexpectedly, the process has brought about mixed results spawning a serious
debate on the real merits of agricultural land conversion. Thus, the significance of the
current level of farmland conversion relative to local agriculture and rural communities
was examined.
Based on the results of the study, there were some 856 land conversion petitions
filed in Cavite from 1986 to 1994 covering nearly 12,414 ha. Of this number, about 698
petitions consisting of some 9,963 ha were either approved or exempted. Assuming
then that the majority of those applications under process would also be eventually
approved or exempted, then the total size of agricultural land that may have already
been lost to urban uses could amount to approximately 12,060 ha over the past nine
years. However, while this loss of agricultural land may be regarded as sizable, it was
not as serious and critical as widely perceived considering that it accounted for nearly
10 percent of the total stock of agricultural land in Cavite in 1986. Moreover, of the total
area of farmlands converted, a greater part of it (95 %) were composed mainly of the
rainfed areas, of which some 30 percent were made up principally of idle lands. Further
data analysis also showed that of the total area petitioned for agricultural land
conversion, 45 percent were exclusively for residential purposes, whereas industrial
areas, mixed-uses, and recreational/commercial/institutional/service areas each
accounted for only 16, 21, and 6 percent, respectively.
The study also revealed that aside from the direct loss of productive capacity, the
successive land conversions that have taken place in the past has also negatively
influenced whatever little agriculture remained. These externalities were generally
reported to have taken several forms which imposed additional burdens on existing
farming conditions even if the remaining agricultural lands were not physically altered in
any major way. On the other hand, results of the cost-benefit analysis indicated that
agricultural land conversion were both financially and economically justified. Even when
the results were evaluated using different discount rates, time horizons, and varying
combinations of different agricultural lands converted, the winners have consistently
gained more than what the losers lost; and there were substantial positive net gains for
society as a whole. Thus, in general, results of the study bared that the positive side of
land conversion could substantially offset its obvious disadvantages.
INTRODUCTION
For years, the Philippines’ bid toward NIC status has been invariably transforming the
once serene rural landscape into a bustling hub of human activity. Spurred by the constant
urge to attract foreign investments, generate more employment opportunities, and decongest
major population centers, the government tolerated the rampant conversion of hundreds of
hectares of productive farmlands across the country to various urban uses. Unexpectedly,
the process has brought about both mixed results engendering a serious debate on the real
value of agricultural land conversion. Hence, the significance of the current level of
farmland conversion relative to local agriculture and rural communities was examined.
The study was restricted to Cavite which was then the country’s leading province in
terms of agricultural land conversions. It covered a period of nine years from 1986 to 1994
and was conducted in three phases lasting from January 1995 to March 1996. Phase I
consisted of collecting both primary and secondary data on the existing institutional
arrangements, status, extent, and nature of farmland conversions in Cavite from the DAR,
HLURB, and the provincial Assessor's Office. Based on the results of Phase I, a rapid rural
appraisal (Phase II) on the effects of land conversion on different members of the local
community was undertaken using key informants from seven selected barangays which were
most severely affected by land conversion. Phase III, on the other hand, delved on the
financial and economic analysis of agricultural land conversion using the BCA approach. To
achieve greater confidence on the findings of the study, results of the economic analysis
were further subjected to sensitivity analysis.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Status of Agricultural Land-Use Conversion
From 1986 to 1994, there were some 856 land conversion applications filed in Cavite
covering some 12,414 ha (Table 1). Of this number, about 698 petitions consisting of some
9,963 ha were either approved or exempted. Assuming then that the majority of those
applications under process would also be eventually approved or exempted, then the total
size of agricultural lands that may have already been lost to urban uses could amount to
approximately 12,060 ha over the past nine years. Collectively, this accounts for nearly 97
percent of the aggregate agricultural area in Cavite already earmarked for conversion to
nonagricultural purposes.
Click here to view the entire report
Effects of land-use conversion on local agriculture: The case of Cavite, Philippines
For years, the Philippines’ bid toward NIChood has been invariably transforming
the once serene rural landscape into a bustling hub of human activity, inducing the
massive conversion of hundreds of hectares of productive farmlands into various urban
uses. Unexpectedly, the process has brought about mixed results spawning a serious
debate on the real merits of agricultural land conversion. Thus, the significance of the
current level of farmland conversion relative to local agriculture and rural communities
was examined.
Based on the results of the study, there were some 856 land conversion petitions
filed in Cavite from 1986 to 1994 covering nearly 12,414 ha. Of this number, about 698
petitions consisting of some 9,963 ha were either approved or exempted. Assuming
then that the majority of those applications under process would also be eventually
approved or exempted, then the total size of agricultural land that may have already
been lost to urban uses could amount to approximately 12,060 ha over the past nine
years. However, while this loss of agricultural land may be regarded as sizable, it was
not as serious and critical as widely perceived considering that it accounted for nearly
10 percent of the total stock of agricultural land in Cavite in 1986. Moreover, of the total
area of farmlands converted, a greater part of it (95 %) were composed mainly of the
rainfed areas, of which some 30 percent were made up principally of idle lands. Further
data analysis also showed that of the total area petitioned for agricultural land
conversion, 45 percent were exclusively for residential purposes, whereas industrial
areas, mixed-uses, and recreational/commercial/institutional/service areas each
accounted for only 16, 21, and 6 percent, respectively.
The study also revealed that aside from the direct loss of productive capacity, the
successive land conversions that have taken place in the past has also negatively
influenced whatever little agriculture remained. These externalities were generally
reported to have taken several forms which imposed additional burdens on existing
farming conditions even if the remaining agricultural lands were not physically altered in
any major way. On the other hand, results of the cost-benefit analysis indicated that
agricultural land conversion were both financially and economically justified. Even when
the results were evaluated using different discount rates, time horizons, and varying
combinations of different agricultural lands converted, the winners have consistently
gained more than what the losers lost; and there were substantial positive net gains for
society as a whole. Thus, in general, results of the study bared that the positive side of
land conversion could substantially offset its obvious disadvantages.
INTRODUCTION
For years, the Philippines’ bid toward NIC status has been invariably transforming the
once serene rural landscape into a bustling hub of human activity. Spurred by the constant
urge to attract foreign investments, generate more employment opportunities, and decongest
major population centers, the government tolerated the rampant conversion of hundreds of
hectares of productive farmlands across the country to various urban uses. Unexpectedly,
the process has brought about both mixed results engendering a serious debate on the real
value of agricultural land conversion. Hence, the significance of the current level of
farmland conversion relative to local agriculture and rural communities was examined.
The study was restricted to Cavite which was then the country’s leading province in
terms of agricultural land conversions. It covered a period of nine years from 1986 to 1994
and was conducted in three phases lasting from January 1995 to March 1996. Phase I
consisted of collecting both primary and secondary data on the existing institutional
arrangements, status, extent, and nature of farmland conversions in Cavite from the DAR,
HLURB, and the provincial Assessor's Office. Based on the results of Phase I, a rapid rural
appraisal (Phase II) on the effects of land conversion on different members of the local
community was undertaken using key informants from seven selected barangays which were
most severely affected by land conversion. Phase III, on the other hand, delved on the
financial and economic analysis of agricultural land conversion using the BCA approach. To
achieve greater confidence on the findings of the study, results of the economic analysis
were further subjected to sensitivity analysis.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Status of Agricultural Land-Use Conversion
From 1986 to 1994, there were some 856 land conversion applications filed in Cavite
covering some 12,414 ha (Table 1). Of this number, about 698 petitions consisting of some
9,963 ha were either approved or exempted. Assuming then that the majority of those
applications under process would also be eventually approved or exempted, then the total
size of agricultural lands that may have already been lost to urban uses could amount to
approximately 12,060 ha over the past nine years. Collectively, this accounts for nearly 97
percent of the aggregate agricultural area in Cavite already earmarked for conversion to
nonagricultural purposes.
Click here to view the entire report
Filipino farmers face decreasing arable land
THE Philippines faces the dauntless task of producing more and more food from less and less arable land and irrigation water.
The country has 10.3 million hectares of arable land with which to produce the food, fiber and other requirements of 95 million people. This means a land availability of only 1,080 square meters for every Filipino.
This very narrow ratio of land to people can only get worse as Congress continues its debate on the reproductive health bill.
The order of business, after finally arriving at a national consensus on family planning and population management, is to halt the conversion of prime, irreplaceable farm lands into settlements, industry and other non-agricultural uses.
Moreover, although the Philippines is relatively more blessed with fresh water than many countries, the handwriting is on the wall: agriculture must increasingly do with less water.
At the same time, agriculture is faced with multifaceted challenges such as low land and labor productivity; high production cost, production and distribution losses; high environmental and market risks to producers; low private sector interest; and degradation of ecological services.
All of these contribute to low income and poverty for farmers, high food costs to consumers, and lack of competitiveness of agricultural products in the world market.
The Philippines has no choice but to further intensify its agriculture and – at the same time – minimize the very substantial impacts of intensive agriculture.
Land productivity could be improved by raising crop yields and raising crop intensity. The total annual harvest area is about 12.4 million has. With a physical area of 10.3 million has., this translates to a cropping intensity of 1.2.
With favorable year-round growing conditions, this cropping intensity could be raised to 2 or even 3.
High cropping intensity would require the development of shorter maturing cultivated varieties; direct seeding/no tillage; multiple, relay and intercropping farms; and effective water control.
However, intensive monocropping and succession cropping of the same crop year in and year out on the same piece of land will raise productivity but will ultimately result in soil fertility problems and build up pests and diseases.
Crop rotation and diversification to high value crops should be promoted to avoid these ecological problems and to enable farmers to take advantage of market opportunities and achieve higher returns.
The necessary agronomic technologies which are highly location and market specific can be systematically developed through the All Philippine Farming Systems R&D Networks built around rice, corn and coconut which account for three-fourths of farm lands and small farmers.
Crop agriculture starts with good seeds. The major improvement objectives include high yield, earlier maturity; adaptation to drought and water logging; tolerance to soil infertility, acidity and salinity; resistance to pests and diseases; and enhanced nutrition value and quality, including storage and shipping traits.
First generation modern biotechnology crops – primarily soybean, corn and cotton – have desirable traits of herbicide tolerance and insect protection. Worldwide, biotech crops are grown in 148 million hectares in 29 countries.
The Philippines has 500,000 has. planted to insect protected Bt corn and herbicide tolerant corn. Economic studies show the higher return-on-investment for Bt corn than the ordinary hybrid, hence the phenomenal 50-fold increase in seven years of biotechnology corn in the Philippines.
The traits of herbicide tolerance and insect protection will remain important, but other important traits are being developed to help increase the yield of crops under various conditions.
At different stages of development in biotechnology are traits such as better pest resistance and weed control. That is, biotech crops with multiple resistance to three or more pests and tolerance to pesticides: eggplants resistant to the fruit and shoot borer; corn resistant to drought; abaca resistant to the bunchy-top virus; and papaya resistant to the ringspot virus.
Also under development are high-yielding crops efficient in using nitrogen or increasing photosynthesis. Quality traits are coming, for example, Golden Rice with provitamin A in the grain and papaya with long-shelf life. ScienceNewsPhilippines
(Dr. Ruben L. Villareal is a former Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Los Banos. He wrote this policy paper in collaboration with National Academy of Science and Technology President Emil Q. Javier and National Scientist Dr. Benito S. Vergara.)
Source: SEARCA
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