ศูนย์นวัตกรรมเทคโนโลยีหลังการเก็บเกี่ยว

Consumption aspects of sustainable agriculture: project methods and linkages in the Philippines.

Prehm, M. S.;

Journal for Farming Systems Research-Extension Year: 1991 Vol: 2 Issue: 3 Pages: 11-29 Ref: 31 ref.

1991

บทคัดย่อ

The sustainability of agricultural development depends on more than just maintaining the on-going productive capacity of the system. Household food consumption/nutrition is an underlying aspect of the criteria for sustainable agriculture, but plants and animals often receive more attention than humans in agricultural development efforts. This paper examines key aspects of consumption as they relate to ecological, economic, social, and humanitarian dimensions of sustainability in the Bicol Rain-fed Agricultural Development Project in the Philippines. Crop mix, seasonality, income, and marketing were found to be the most important production/consumption linkages to ecological and economic aspects of sustainability. To increase sustainability, the project promoted intercropping in both coconut- and maize-based cropping systems, established local nurseries, and provided assistance in postharvest handling and marketing of maize. Income generating activities involving women's groups included postharvest processing and formation of a cooperative. Heavy participation by farmer cooperators and women's groups, as well as increased staff awareness, led the project personnel to give priority to consumption concerns. Although the consumption aspects of the project need systematic evaluation, from farmer adoption rates it appears that many innovations are highly sustainable.