Agricultural land conversion : effects of urbanization on the lives of farmers in selected barangays, municipalities of Naic and Tanza, Province of Cavite / by Angelo T. Abogadie, Romie-Ann B. Bo, Kristine E. Culla.

Thesis (Bachelor of Science in Development Management) Cavite State University

College of Economics, Management and Development Studies (CEMDS)

ABOGADIE, ANGELO T., BO, ROMIE-ANN B., CULLA, KRISTINE E. Agricultural Land Conversion: Effects of Urbanization on the Lives of Farmers in the Selected Barangays, Municipalities of Naic and Tanza, Province of Cavite. Undergraduate Thesis. Bachelor of Science in Development Management. Cavite State University, Indang, Cavite. August 2022. Adviser: Ms. Glenda Sullano-Peña.
The results were gathered from October to November 2021 among the selected barangays in the municipalities of Naic and Tanza, Province of Cavite, to make an in-depth study on the effects of Agricultural Land Conversion (ALC) on the farmers' lives due to urbanization. Specifically, the study primarily focused on determining the socio-economic characteristics of the participants, their level of awareness about the policies and processes of ALC, and their perspective about ALC. It was also designed to identify the different factors that determine the participants' decision to convert the agricultural land that they farmed into non- agricultural uses, as well as to assess the effects of ALC on the farmers' socio- economic lives and food security, and to identify the challenges faced by the farmers before and after land conversion.
Descriptive statistical tools such as frequency counts, percentage, mean, rank, and range were used to address and analyze all the research problems and objectives of the study. Ninety farmers were selected through purposive sampling technique and snowball method. The study was supported by various theories such as: Global Social Theory, Traditional Location Theory, and Utilitarianism Theory. It was revealed that more than half of the farmers who converted their agricultural land were males and belonged to the older adult bracket that ranged from 51 years old and above. More than half of the farmers were married and had a relatively bigger family size of 5 to 8 family members.
Meanwhile, nearly half of the farmers' households estimated monthly income was P10,000 or less. It was also revealed that the majority of the total participants were engaged in rice and animal production before converting their agricultural land and more than half of them are unemployed after land conversion. Moreover, the result showed that the farmers were in favor of ALC, and they were somewhat aware of the policies and processes involved in it. The location of the agricultural land was revealed as the major factor that had affected their decision to convert their land. It was also ascertained that the socio-economic lives and the food security and/or food supplies of the farmers' households are somehow affected by the ALC. Before converting the land, some of the major challenges that they experienced were low income and sluggish sales on crops.
Meanwhile, it was also found that they experienced unstable income and regrets after selling and converting their land into non-agricultural uses. In general, ALC somehow affected the socio-economic lives and the food security and/or food supplies of the farmers' households. Study findings revealed that most of the participants are somewhat aware of the stated policies and processes of ALC, which indicates that they can only understand some aspects involved in it.
They are also experiencing more difficult lives than before despite them considering ALC as a gain in their economic development and will improve their living conditions. Therefore, it is recommended that the Department of Agriculture, Local Government Units, and other government agencies should provide concrete policies in agricultural land conversion. It is also recommended for policymakers to pay earnest attention in controlling the rapid and rampant land-use conversion, which impacted the socio- economic lives and the food security and/or food supplies in the municipalities of Naic and Tanza as well as in other municipalities of Cavite. In line with this, farmers or tenants should be constantly informed and educated by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) regarding their rights on land being processed for conversion. Furthermore, to promote the productivity of the remaining agricultural lands, there should be an improvement in the irrigation systems, provision for water and sanitation, affordable energy, peace and security, development of facilities, and opportunities in achieving sustainable communities in rural areas.

Submitted copy to the University Library. 08/18/2022 T-8956