Factors Affecting Farmers’ Utilization of Rapid Composting Technology (RCT) in Zambales, Philippines

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the factors that influenced the utilization of rapid composting technology of the farmers in Zambales who had undergone training under the Expanded Rapid Modified Composting (EMRC) program. A semi-structured interview schedule was administered to 156 randomly selected EMRC beneficiaries from the six municipalities of Zambales. The study employed an ex-post facto correlational research analysis, which was a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. Chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Coefficient of Correlation were used to verify the relationship of the variables such as farmers’ characteristics, farm attributes, and institutional factors with technology utilization. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the farmers’ characteristics such as household size and income, membership in farmers’ organizations, and ownership of hand tractor were found to significantly influenced RCT utilization. Farm profile of the respondents which include the soil type, and the distance of their farm from the municipal road and the CFA laboratory were the variables that showed significant effects to technology utilization. Among the institutional factors studied, the number of topics learned during the program and the adequacy of the provided input were found as contributory factors. Variables such as sex, age, civil status, educational attainment, number of years in farming, ownership of land and draft animals, farm distance from home and market, type if irrigation facilities, nature of services provided by the extension agents, and the nature of technology promotion did not significantly influence RCT utilization. About 106 or 68% of the respondents utilized the technology. Several constraints on the use of RCT were identified, among which are the unavailability of inoculants, insufficient knowledge on the promoted technology, unsustainability of the extension services provided to the farmers, and the farmers’ preconceived ideas on the negative effects of the introduced technology to health and crop production. The farmers utilized the RCT (trial stage) but did not reach the adoption stage. This study showed that the characteristics of the technology users, farm profile, and institutional factors are important determinants on the utilization of rapid composting techniques. The findings of this study can serve as a basis for the improvement on the provision of extension services particularly in enhancing the rate of utilization and adoption of agricultural technologies.