| Summary, etc. |
The study was conducted with the general aim of determining the environmental impacts of a rice-based organic farming system. In particular, it aimed to describe the demographics of rice-based organic farming practitioners in the selected study sites, determine their different organic farming practices, and determine the environmental impacts of organic farming practices as observed, experienced, and perceived by practitioners. The study was conducted from November to December of 2021. The needed data were gathered through a survey questionnaire administered face-to-face and online using the Google Form platform. A total of 268 respondents were considered, coming from 8 municipalities in Districts 1 and 2 of Ilocos Norte. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The largest portion of respondents were in the age category of 52 to 63 in both districts. The majority were male, married, and Roman Catholic as their religious affiliation. Average household sizes were in the category of 1 to 8 members. They have educational attainment from elementary and high school levels. All of them are primarily engaged in farming, and most of them have an average monthly income of PHP 1,000 to PHP 10,000. The results showed that all of them are organic practitioners xiv xv and agree that organic farming is beneficial to the environment. These farmers have been practicing organic farming for an average of 1 to 6 years, while others have been for 7 to 12 years, and some have even practiced for more than 19 years. Most of the cropping patterns followed are rice after rice and rice after corn, and the majority of them are organic in the entire cropping season. Results also showed that use of organic fertilizer, livestock manure, poultry manure, and intercropping were the most organic practices employed in soil fertility management. As to pest management, spraying with fermented fruit juice (FFJ), fermented plant juice (FPJ), and integrated pest management were the most employed practices. As to weed management, mechanical weeding and grazing animals are the most commonly used practices. As regard to the environmental impacts of organic-based farming systems, the majority of them believe that they lead to better soil, water, and air quality, better biodiversity, and improved agro-ecosystem services. Other benefits mentioned by most farmers are better crop performance, improved soil and ease of management, and a safer environment. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that organic farming practices apparently give benefits to the biological, physical, and overall environment and performance of the farm. However, it is also indicative that some farmers cannot fully practice organic farming for the entire season, particularly during the dry season. With these, it is recommended that organic farming be widely promoted to farmers. To achieve a more widespread adoption of organic farming in the province, LGUs must consider more serious programs for disseminating and educating farmers about organic xv xvi farming, in collaboration with their local-based concerned agencies. Other government agencies like the academe can also play a significant role in this. Likewise, the provision of financial support must also be considered by the government for farmers in order for them to have safety nets in case their crop fails. This is not to encourage more wide adoption, but to likewise encourage farmers to engage in full organic farming. |