Status of Farmland Conversion to Organic Farming in Selected Municipalities in Lanao Del Norte, Philippines: Issues and Challenges

Republic Act (RA) 10068 (as amended) is a legal guidepost to spearhead the implementation of organic agriculture in the Philippines. The law mandated that all agricultural systems promote a sustainable practice using the lens of ecologically sound, socially acceptable, economically viable, and technically feasible production of farm-to-table food. Studies show that program implementers are not gaining enough inroads in their efforts to promote farmland conversion to organic agriculture in the country. This study investigates the status of farm conversion of Lanao del Norte farmers to organic farming and the reasons behind their decision to adopt the system, the issues and concerns they face and recommendations for its successful implementation. This is a qualitative study which covers 12 out of 22 municipalities of Lanao del Norte. The primary sources of data were 36 organic farmers and 23 program implementers as key informants.

Organic farming, farmland conversion to organic farming, sustainable agriculture

1. Aldo, R.A & Rubrico, E.G. RA 11511: A Boost for Small Filipino Organic Producers. https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/press release/2021/0106 villar1.asp. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Brief History, Current Status and General Directions of Organic Agriculture in the Philippines. https://noap.da.gov.ph/brief-background-on-organic-agriculture/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Dinis, I., Ortolani,O., Bocci, R., & Brites, C. (2013). Organic Agriculture and Sustainable Practices: Towards a Typology of Farmers. ESADR 2013At: ÉvoraVolume: C07 – [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Food and Agriculture Organization. (2016). Key to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Food and Agriculture Organization. (2008). An Introduction to the Basic Concepts of Food Security.EC-FAO Food Security Programme. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Maghirang, R.G., Reynaldo De La Cruz R. and Villareal, R.L.. (2019) How Sustainable is Organic Agriculture in the Philippines? Trans. Nat. Acad. Sci. & Tech. (Philippines) Vol. 33 (No. 2). https://nast.dost.gov.ph/images/pdf%20files/Publications/NAST [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Majorenos, G. M. (2005). Gender Role Differentiation among Women and Men Farmers In the NGO's Sustainable Agriculture Program in Upper Pugaan, lligan city,Southern Philippines. Master's Thesis. MSU-lligan Institute of Technology,lligan City. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Nelson, G.L.M., Abrigo, G.N.A., De Guzman, R.P., Ocampo, J.A. & De Guzman, L.E.P. 2019. Organic Farmers in the Philippines: Characteristics, Knowledge, Attitude and Practices. Journal of Nature Studies. 18(2), 26-43. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Preliminary 2023 First Semester Official Poverty Statistics. December 22, 2023. https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/poverty. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Philippine National Standard PNS/BAFS 07:2016 Organic Agriculture [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. RA 10068 was amended by RA 11511 which was signed by President Duterte on December 23, 2020, and took effect on 21 January 2021. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Profile of Lanao del Norte. https://lanaodelnorte.gov.ph/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Provincial Development Program and Financial Plan (PDPFP), 2019-2024 (https://lanaodelnorte.gov.ph/) [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Rodriguez, J.M., Molnar, J.J., Fazio, R.A., Sydnor A. & Lowe, M,J. (2008). Barriers to adoption of sustainable agriculture practices: Change agent perspectives. Published online by Cambridge University Press. Renewable agriculture and Food systems. Vol 24, Issue 1. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Tagupa, V. (2011).Impacts of Asset Base Sustainable Agriculture Processes and Results of Societal Engagement of Creating and Recreating Local Communities In Mindanao, Philippines. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. https://www.statista.com/statistics/713240/philippines-number-of-agriculture-industry employees/Agriculture in the Philippines-statistics& amp; facts Published by Statista Research Department, Oct 26, 2021. http://lawphil.net [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Breeding for a Greener Future: Selective Breeding and Crossbreeding Approaches to Minimize Methane Emissions in Ruminant Livestock
• Determinants of Adoption of Post-Harvest Losses Prevention Techniques among Banana/Plantain Marketers in Lagos State, Nigeria
• Enhancing Rice Yield Prediction Using UAV-Based Multispectral Imaging and Machine Learning Algorithms
• Seed-Borne Fungi of Groundnuts (Arachis Hypogaea) and Their Management with Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) Extract In Makurdi, Nigeria
• The Influence of Landforms and Slope on Agricultural Cropping Patterns in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar District