SUSTAINABILITY OF CACAO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN DAVAO DEL NORTE, PHILIPPINES

Abstract

This study aimed to target four distinct research objectives which included describing the socio-economic profile of the cacao farmers-beneficiaries of the development programs in Davao del Norte, identifying the dimensions, level of the sustainability index, factors affecting the sustainability of the said development programs. This study utilized the quantitative research design employing the descriptive approach, the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and the regression analysis technique. One research questionnaire was used as instrument in this study. A total of 260 farmers served as respondents to this study. The findings revealed that majority of the cacao farmers in Davao del Norte are male, married, aged 56-65 years old, Catholic Christian, Bisaya, with 41-50 years of farming experience, with 10 years and below cacao farming experience, earning a monthly income of Php. 10,000.00 and below, belonging to a household size with 4-6 members, having a membership to either Pamacaun Farmers Association, Alonga Sagayen Water System Association, or Cacao Farmers Linao Association, and with 6 to 10 years of membership. Moreover, findings also revealed 14 emerging dimensions of the sustainability of cacao industry development programs in Davao del Norte based on the responses of the cacao respondents. Furthermore, it was also found that the level of sustainability index of cacao industry development programs in Davao del Norte vary from one another. Lastly, findings revealed that only four of the factors significantly affected the sustainability of cacao industry development programs in Davao del Norte which are the years of farming experience, household size, organization membership, and years of membership. KEYWORDS: Sustainability, Development Programs, Cacao Industry