Sociodemographic profile of the upland farmers in the MPSAP pilot barangays

Abstract

Factual information and in-depth knowledge about the subject are important in formulating development programs and in providing solutions to problems that may be encountered in the course of development. Two hundred sixteen upland farmers were interviewed from the barangays of Patag, Guadalupe, Pangasugan and Marcos. Majority of the upland farmers are married who are at their prime adulthood. Their educational attainment and that of their spouses is below Grade V. The average number of children per household is four and the household size is about five persons. Most are migrants to the area from the interior barangays of Baybay due to insurgency problem in their respective places of origin, and to seek employment. They farm at the ViSCA forest reservation specifically, in the areas of Anibong, Bagacay, Calbiga-a, Dolores, Guilamingan and Hubasan. The five major problems of upland farmers are insufficient income, irregular job, tenurial insecurity on land cultivated and lack of decent house. To cope with their problems, upland farmers diversify their livelihood in order to generate income for the basic needs of the family. The major aspiration of the upland farmers is to find a regular job to enable them to send their children to school, eat nutritious food, start a business, stay healthy in decent house, wear good clothes and own land and a work animal.