Factors affecting the adoption of organic rice farming: the case of farmers in M’lang, North Cotabato, Philippines

Abstract

Sustainability, especially in agriculture, has been a growing concern worldwide. In the Philippines, self-sufficiency in rice production has been a major goal. Thus, increasing and intensifying production lessens the focus on sustainability policies. Nevertheless, there are still movements and efforts to counteract the adversities brought by industrial and intensive agriculture such as the development and promotion of sustainable farming systems including organic farming. Thus, this paper attempts to identify the factors that could influence the adoption of organic farming practices in rice production. Using probit regression, with dichotomous outcomes, the likelihood of organic rice adoption given the factors was estimated. Results indicate that females, farmers with higher education levels, those with longer experiences in rice production, small landholders, and those with low-cost per hectare have higher likelihoods in adopting organic rice farming. Moreover, the importance of extension services, NGOs, and private institutions in the intensification of organic production was also seen.