The Role of Organic Agriculture in Poverty Alleviation in Southern Philippines

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of organic agriculture towards poverty alleviation among farmers in Sarangani Province, a southern province of the Philippines. In the Philippines, agriculture sector accounts the highest poverty incidences particularly on farmers and fisher folk. Using a qualitative case study design, the realities on the ground are drawn from insights of organic farmers using key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Interestingly, organic agriculture shows potential for poverty alleviation as it addresses fundamental problems among farmers such as food availability, sufficient nutrition, and source of daily income. Food security for the locality through organic farming remains a challenge as surplus production is met by intensive labor requirements for organic farming especially for rice and corn. This paper argues that organic agriculture potentials for poverty alleviation can be maximized when equipment, transfer of technology, and entrepreneurial/marketing components are further extended to the farmers as part state intervention. While relationship with the civil society and the industry can be improved to increase the income potential of organic farmers.