Adoption and Uptake Pathways of Corn-Based Technologies by Farmer-Scientists in Bondoc Peninsula, Quezon, Philippines
Carla O. Melodillar, Rowena DT. Baconguis, Josefina T. Dizon, and Juan M. Pulhin
Farmer-scientists are trained to improve farm practice through the conduct of on-farm experimental trials and farmer-to-farmer extension. To analyze the adoption of recommended corn-based technologies, the study was conducted in six sites in Bondoc Peninsula, Quezon, Philippines with 66 randomly selected respondents. The sites were purposively chosen due to their accessibility and sufficient number of respondents. The study used survey interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and actual observations to gather data. Measures of central tendency and variability, correlation and regression analyses were used for data analysis. Results showed that most of the respondents have adopted four to six out of eight corn-based technologies as early as Phase I. Bio-physical, socio-demographic and economic factors showed a very weak to moderate positive relationship with the adoption of corn-based technologies except road terrain, which was found to have a significant positive relationship with the use of organic fertilizer. With the use of logistic regression analysis, the probability of using organic fertilizer was higher for a farmer living in a hilly road terrain. Farmer participation decreased from Phase 1 to Phase 3 and uptake pathways were limited to inner circles of the farmer. Overall, the study provided evidence that this participatory program increases adoption rates but failed to sustain most farmer’s interest to participate in subsequent programs that aim to develop scientific and extension skills.