Socio-economic of site-specific nutrient management for maize in the Philippines

• Published in: Philippine Journal of Crop Science (Philippines) Vol. 32; no. 1
• Main Authors: Medina, C.M, Labios, J.D, Labios, R.V., Philippines Univ. Los Banos, College, Laguna (Philippines). Farming Systems and Soil Resources Inst., Ocampo, A.M., Philippines Univ. Los Banos, College, Laguna (Philippines). Inst. of Plant Breeding - Crop Science Cluster, Gines, H.C., Philippine Rice Research Inst., Maligaya, Science City of Munoz 3119 Nueva Ecija (Philippines), Tumamang, S.C., Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit 2, Ilagan, Isabela (Philippines), Descalsota, J., Philippines Univ. Los Banos, College, Laguna (Philippines). Farming Systems and Soil Resources Inst., Witt, C, Pasuguin, J.M., International Plant Nutrition Inst. (Singapore)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.06.2007
• Subjects: APLICACION DE ABONOS; BESOIN NUTRITIONNEL; ENTORNO SOCIOECONOMICO; ENVIRONNEMENT SOCIOECONOMIQUE; FARMING SYSTEMS; FERTILISATION; FERTILIZER APPLICATION; FILIPINAS; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_10795; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_26824; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_2807; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5277; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5783; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_8504; NECESIDADES DE NUTRIENTES; NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS; PHILIPPINES; SISTEMAS DE EXPLOTACION; SOCIOECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT; SYSTEME D'EXPLOITATION AGRICOLE; ZEA MAYS

To improve farmers' yield and net resources, site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) recommendations are now being developed for maize at project sites in the Philippines. SSNM strategies aim to supply the maize plant with the right amounbt of nutrients at the right time during the cropping season to achieve high, attainable yields. The development of fertilizer rates will not only have to consider the biophysical environment but also the farmers' perspective. This study aims to provide the socioeconomic considerations in formulating the site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) strategies for maize. A socioeconomic survey of 132 randomly sampled maize farmers in selected villages of Nueva Ecija and Isabela was done to analyze the socioeconomic environment and existing farming practices. The socioeconomic factors that would likely influence the nutrient management decisions of maize farmers are: 1)availability of labor, financial and social capital, 2)accessibility of technical information on nutrient management, 3) institutional support systems, and most importantly, 4) the economic performance of their existing management practices.The increasing cost of commercial fertilizers and the critical role of traders and middlemen are important issues in carrying out nutrient management for their farms. Yields, incomes and costs from farmers' existing practices, were evaluated and compared with the potential incremental benefits due to SSNM technologies. SSNM recommendation should offer higher gross yield and net income and must complement certain socioeconomic attributes of farm for wider adoption.