EEPSEA, IDRC Regional Office for Southeast and East Asia, Singapore, SG
Abstract
This report investigates which land use system would provide the most economic and environmental benefits to farmers of upland grassland areas in the Philippines. It analyses a number of different land use systems and focuses on the benefits that tree-based systems can bring. It also investigates the main reasons why farmers are reluctant to change from their current unsustainable cropping regimes. It finds that it would make economic and environmental sense for farmers to convert a large percentage of their farms over to tree planting. It also finds that, although this would help halt the current slide into low productivity and environmental ruin, many farmers are reluctant to make the move because of the economic risks involved. In light of this, the report suggest several policies to give farmers the assistance they need to make an environmentally-informed choice about which land use system to adopt
