| Journal Article |
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| Article Title | Smallholder farmers | | Author | Rodel D. Lasco, Marya Laya O. Espaldon and Christine Marie D. Habito | | Year | 2016 | | Journal Title | Agroforestry Systems | | Institution | Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht | | Volume | 90 | | Pages | 521-540 | | Call Number | JA0659-16 | | Keywords | Roles of trees, Agroforestry, Ecosystem Services, Climate change, Adaptation, Philippines |
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| Abstract: |
| Recent studies have highlighted the
importance of trees and agroforestry in climate change
adaptation and mitigation. This paper analyzes how
farmers, members of their households, and community
leaders in the Wahig–Inabanga watershed, Bohol
province in the Philippines perceive of climate
change, and define and value the roles of trees in
coping with climate risks. Focus group discussions
revealed that farmers and community leaders had
observed changes in rainfall and temperature over the
years. They also had positive perceptions of tree roles
in coping with climate change, with most timber tree
species valued for regulating functions, while nontimber
trees were valued as sources of food and
income. Statistical analysis of the household survey
results was done through linear probability models for
both determinants of farmers’ perceived changes in
climate, and perceived importance of tree roles in
coping with climate risks. Perceiving of changes in
rainfall was more likely among farmers who had
access to electricity, had access to water for irrigation,
and derived climate information from government
agencies and mass media, and less likely among
farmers who were members of farmers’ organizations.
On the other hand, perceiving of an increase in
temperature was more likely among famers who were
members of women’s organizations and had more off/
non-farm sources of income, and less likely among
those who derived climate information from government
agencies. Meanwhile, marginal effects of the
regression on perceived importance of trees in coping
with climate change revealed positively significant
relationships with the following predictor variables:
access to electricity, number of off/non-farm sources
of income, having trees planted by household members,
observed increase in temperature and decline in
yield, and sourcing climate information from government
agencies. In contrast, a negatively significant
relationship was observed between recognition of the
importance of tree roles, and level of education, and
deriving income from tree products. In promoting treebased
adaptation, we recommend improving access to
necessary inputs and resources, exploring the potentials
of farmer-to-farmer extension, using participatory
approaches to generate farmer-led solutions based
on their experiences of climate change, and initiating
government-led extension to farmers backed by nongovernment
partners |
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