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ABSTRACT CAOILI, CRISLIE B. and MARIANO, GILBERT T. 2021. Farmer's Perception on the Socio-Ecological Impact of the Small Water Impounding Project of Barangay Pimentel, City of Batac, Ilocos Norte. Undergraduate Thesis College of Agriculture, Food, and Sustainable Development. Mariano Marcos State University, City of Batac, 2906, Ilocos Norte. 47 pp. Adviser: Prof. Estrelita O. Domingo The study aimed to determine the perceived ecological and socio-economic impacts of the small water impounding project (SWIP) in Barangay Pimentel, City of Batac. Specifically, it determined: (1) the socio-demographic profiles of the farmers in the area, (2) the socio-economic impact of the water impoundment to the farmers before and after the establishment, and (3) the physical, biological and ecological impacts of the water impoundment on water, land and air. This study was conducted in Pimentel, City of Batac, Ilocos Norte. The study used descriptive research design to gather and explain the ecological and socio-economic impact of the water impoundment. Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentage were employed to analyze the different variables of the study. The farmers said that the SWIP improves their livelihood. They were able to buy home appliances, sent their children to school and able to construct their houses. In addition, most of the farmers claimed that their harvest increased and they are now selling their products. The farmers can now sell their harvest of up to 1,600kg to 2.500 kg of rice. The harvest rate of the farmers also increased from 3,000 to 5,000 kg after the establishment of the SWIP. Generally, their cultivated lands increased because of the presence of irrigation. They also claimed that their expenses for irrigation and fertilizer were reduced. In terms of biological impacts of the SWIP, the residents observed that all water animals increased after the establishment of the SWIP. Pangasius, and exotic fish, has been also added because farmers also used the impoundment as fishponds. However, there were trees which were also cut down during the construction like mahogany, ipil- ipil, acacia, bamboo, mango trees and madre de cacao. Ecologically, a slight soil erosion and changes in topography where the impoundment is located were observed by the farmers. There is also an observed decrease in the fog/moisture in the air after the establishment of the SWIP. The establishment of the SWIP generally improved the lives of the farmers, although there were observed negative impacts in the environments. |
