Significant Changes Experienced by Adopters of Sustainable Organic Agriculture Technologies in Ormoc City, Philippines

Abstract

In an effort to help preserve the environment, several organizations have been promoting the use of sustainable organic agriculture (SOA) technologies. Many farmers have already tried adopting one or a combination of these technologies. This study was conducted in Ormoc City, Leyte, Philippines to determine the changes experienced by farmers after adopting the SOA technologies introduced to them by the Rural Development Institute in Leyte, Philippines (RDI-Leyte). Data were gathered through in-depth interviews with 30 farmer-adopters in seven villages of the city. To determine significant changes experienced by the farmer-adopters, significant change stories were collected and reviewed following the procedures of the Most Significant Change (MSC) technique outlined by Davies and Dart (2005). Analysis of the MSC stories revealed that there were three kinds of changes experienced by the technology adopters. These include improved knowledge and skills on organic farming systems, improved food quality, and improved economic conditions. These changes correspond to the objectives of RDI-Leyte in their advocacy on SOA technologies and to higher levels (i.e., levels 5 to 7) in Bennett’s hierarchy of program outcomes. This suggests that the efforts of RDI-Leyte to promote SOA technologies have already made some impacts on the technology adopters’ lives.