State of Agriculture in the Uplands of Southern Mindanao

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2 State of Agriculture in the Uplands of Southern Mindanao (focused in UDP covered barangays) Aurea Christie Galvez-Lumaad, Environment Coordinator Resource Management Component Upland Development Programme Project Management Office

3 What are Uplands? Natural Physical Characteristics: areas located in the higher elevations (above 100 masl) usually these are upper portions of watersheds, the headwater/catchment areas that is the source of freshwater for various uses; much of the sediments from these lands flows through downstream rivers into floodplains, channels and reservoirs comprised mostly with mountainous and hilly areas with steep slopes of 18% or more and with generally thin topsoil layers soils are usually derived from parent rock and are often medium to light texture and tend to be highly erodible climate - high rainfall (frequently heavy and seasonally concentrated)

4 Classification and Regulation of Uplands Topographically, uplands areas are generally classified as forestlands. (Revised Forestry Code) Section 19: The numerous beneficial uses of the various resources of forests and grazing lands shall be evaluated and weighted before allowing their utilization, exploitation, occupation or possession or conduct of any activity therein. only activities on these lands which will produce optimum benefits to the development and progress of the country and public welfare without impairment or with least injury to its resources, will be allowed. Section 15: All lands 18% and above are needed for forest purposes and must be kept in a vegetative condition to prevent erosion and adverse effects on the lowlands and streams. No land of the public domain 18% in slope or over shall be classified as alienable and disposable, nor any forest land fifty percent (50%) in slope or over, as grazing lands.

5 PRESENT STATUS OF UPLANDS Three broad land use zones in the uplands: Permanent Agricultural Lands (50%-90%) Grasslands (20% to 50%) Forestlands (10% to 40%)

6 Permanent Agricultural Lands 50 % to 90% of the total area 1. Predominantly, found on the lower slopes closest to the lowlands and roads. 2. However, this is now rapidly expanding into the forestlands and grasslands 3. TREND : Increasing significantly

7 Grasslands 20% - 50% of the total area Dominate in areas with increasing elevation and remoteness. These lands are advancing into the forested zones. Caused by logging activities (illegal/legal; small/large scales) that converted primary forests to degraded secondary forests. TREND: Many of these lands are now being converted to agricultural lands (used for small-scale low productive, extensive farming).

8 Occur at the highest elevations and on steepest slopes. Primary forests converted to degraded secondary forests due to massive large-scale logging activities in the past; Recently, the remaining forests (both primary and secondary forests) are deforested through direct forest clearing by the small farmers. TREND: Consistently and rapidly declining and converted into permanent agriculture. Forestlands 10% - 40% of the total area

9 HIGHLY DEGRADED LANDS and EXTENSIVE SOIL EROSION in the Uplands Severe erosion Bald hills Degraded quality of soil Degraded slopes Massive deforestation caused by rapid land conversion in favor of permanent agriculture has significantly reduced vegetation in the uplands

10 HIGHLY DEGRADED LANDS and EXTENSIVE SOIL EROSION in the Uplands Landslides Dry riverbed River siltation

11 Status of Agriculture in the Uplands GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS 1. Average farm size : 2.5 has./household (for an average HH size of 5) 2. Family - source of family labor; only few hire labor 3. Majority of these farms have no land tenure. 4. Agricultural activities: crop and livestock production 5. Crops - CORN (commonly, 80% of farmlands), upland rice, banana, root crops, vegetables and some perennial crops (such as coconut, coffee/cacao, abaca and fruit trees)

12 Farming Systems 1. slash and burn ( kaingin ) - a common practice among upland farmers 2. permanent cultivation (evolved from fallow shifting cultivation), home gardens 3. mono cropping (especially in corn production) 4. fertilizers and pesticides --- high intensive use in extensively cultivated lands; however, these inputs were not used or very minimal in newly opened farmlands. 5. Low inputs used --- such as low variety of corn seeds, etc.

13 Agricultural Support 1. Very limited access to credit services 2. Poor market support - lack of information on prices of products; products have low quality and not competitive; poor post-production processes 3. very poor access roads to markets; no/limited transportation facilities 4. no/limited access to high quality inputs 5. lack of information/awareness on appropriate technologies

14 Ecological vulnerability of upland farms These farms are located in steep portions of hilly and mountainous areas that are very vulnerable to soil erosion and are not suitable to agriculture. Intensive cultivation in these lands without any soil conservation measures will just result to sustainable degradation of the lands and declining productivity of upland agriculture.

15 Farming in the forests

16 Productivity in Upland Farming? Low Farm Income = 9,323.00/year (60% mostly from corn production; remaining from other crops including livestock) Low Family Income = 10, (90 % from agriculture) Declining yields Increased production costs due to increased input requirements Loss :preharvest (damages due to strong winds, long dry season, severe erosion, flash floods, plant diseases, deficient production inputs, etc.)

17 Challenges more and more marginal people are pushed to migrate to the uplands and further destroy the remaining forests for agriculture. Given the ecological constraints of these lands for agriculture and the destructive farming practices of the farmers, present mode of upland agriculture will remain an unprofitable economic activity and will not help alleviate the marginalized people from poverty. In reality, population growth and expansion of agriculture in the uplands are both inevitable. This trend has drastically changed the landscape of the so-called forestlands. Further expansion of agricultural lands especially in the remaining forests would lead to more detrimental effects to the environment not only for the upland communities but for the lowland communities. In the same manner, extinction of these marginalized people in the upland communities would lead to social unrest and further conflict.

18 Conclusions Land Degradation in the uplands should be seen as both a major environment and development issue. Agriculture in uplands is a reality -- encouraging new paradigm in managing the resources in the uplands in the context of sustainable agricultural development. Upland development should not only be addressed by providing technical solutions but also should look at this problem in a broader context which would involve evolving policy frameworks and institutional commitments among stakeholders Recommendations Land Policy - reclassification of a considerable number of forest lands which are already used extensively for agriculture, Issuing of land titles to farmers and increased the role of local and regional government in land use planning,

19 Recommendations Evolve and implement adaptive agricultural research and extension for the uplands that would : - cut across various government agencies that have significant roles in developing the uplands (e.g. DA, DENR, NCIP, DAR). - be integrated into the local government units - give more emphasis on the farmers participation on the adoption and dissemination of conservation measures Review and if possible renew or reinforce roles/functions and mandates of various government agencies that have a stake in addressing the issues in the uplands, Institutional Commitment from various stakeholders in addressing the complex problems in the uplands: - re-orient and capacitate institutions - formulate agenda / strategies - forge unity among stakeholders

20 Agriculture is in the uplands is an evolving sector in agriculture development at present, agriculture is a threat to further land degradation in the uplands.... however, it can become an opportunity for economic development and preservation of environment if appropriate regulations and extension services are institutionalized guided on the basic perspective to mitigate the detrimental effects of massive agriculture in the uplands and to curtail the further destruction of the remaining forests IMMEDIATE ACTION is needed. Before the situation becomes worst and irreparable.

21 Lahutay Ta... Daghang Salamat! we just borrowed our present world from our children. if we don t save it otherwise, the world will never be a better place to live for our children and our children s children.