Awareness, Perceptions, and Preparedness of the Farmers in Tublay, Benguet towards the Association of the Southeast Asian Nation Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) 2015

Abstract

The study was conducted in Tublay, Benguet. Specifically, it aimed to determine the socio-demographic profile of the farmer-respondents; the farmer’s level of awareness regarding AFTA; the perceptions of the farmers about AFTA; to identify the steps taken by the farmer-respondents on thier preparation for the AFTA; the communiucation activities done by the LGU of Tublay and other concerned agencies regarding AFTA; and to produce a print material about AFTA. The data were gathered from four key informants and 45 farmer-respondents through interview schedule with the both of the respondents. The study was conducted from January to March 2016. Results showed that most of the farmer-respondents are very aware on the AFTA 2015. Mojority of them indicated that their sources of AFTA information are from the different agencies who have conducted trainings in their area. Generally, the farmer-respondents are aware on basic information about the AFTA such as the main goal and objectives of the AFTA, its advantages and opportunities, its disadvantages and threats, challenges, effects and impacts to thier livelihood, local crops affected, and the agencies involved on the integration. Moreover, majority of the farmer-respondents considers AFTA as a challenge to improve their products in order for it to qualify in the integration competition. They also sees its effect as an opportunity because it could provide a wider market for them. However, majority of them percieved it as a very difficult system because most of them lacks prepation to compete their vegetables in the bigger market. From these challenges on the AFTA, most of them percieved that it would increase the quality of the products because of the standards they have to follow in order to qualify their production in the regional market. Further, most of the farmers-respondents also percieved its effects that AFTA would lead to an oversupply of vegetables in the market because of the increase of producers not only from the local but also from the other ASEAN countries. Another effect percieved is that AFTA would possibly lead the sunstainability of vegetable industry into downfall because they look at the open trade as an increase of competition in the wider market. In addition, the farmer-respondents most perceived advantages of AFTA is that it benefits every investor because of the open market while on its disadvantages, they have indicated that foreign products would become cheper than the local products. Furthermore, most of them percieved that the AFTA’s impact to their livelihood would lead to a decrease on their income because they might be bankrupted because of the competition. On the preparedness of the farmer-respondents, some of them answered that they are not prepared for the integration because they still need information on what theyshould do in order for them to pe prepared. However, they have already taken some steps for their preparation that includes the attending of seminars and trainings, organization membership, application of GAP, ogranic farming, and improving their farming system with the help of technology. The specific concerned agencies that were interviewed on the data gathering also conducted several trainings to disseminate and orient that farmers on the AFTA although there is no specific training conducted that mainly focuses on the AFTA. Most of the conducted trainings and seminars by these specific offices are mostly on GAP and other farming systems though the DA pushes on conducting seminars on the ASEAN integration that is above the aspects of the AFTA. However, it was also noted that these specified offices enumerated the problems they have encoutered during thier information drive on AFTA which includes their communication problem to the farmers, budget for trainings and conduct of the distribution of IEC materials, and also the mindset of the farmers because they have said that some of the farmers are not cooperative in listening and applying what they suggests for the improvement of their farming system. A leaflet was produced as an IEC material for the LGU and farmer-respondents of Tublay. It contains the AFTA’s definition, goal, advantages, and disadvantages which was also based from the results of the farmer’s information needs. It was translated to Iloco dialect for the farmer’s better understanding. Based on the results, the conclusion of the study were (1) Majority of the farmer respondents were very aware on the basic concepts of AFTA, however they need more understanding on its details to fully deepen their awareness and knowledge on its entire concept; (2) Most of the farmer-respondents have indicated the LGU and other concerned Agencies who are conducting training in the community as their main source of information about AFTA. However, there is no particular training that was specified in addressing AFTA because the information were just ride-ons on the last part of the programs conducted; (3) In their perceptions, the results conveyed that they have different perceptions on the AFTA wherein they percieved its positive effect as a challenge but most percieved its negative effects as a threat to their livelihood; (4) On the farmer-respondents preparedness, most of them said that they are not really prepared on the integration while others answered that they are not sure for their preparation. However, farmers are on their way to preparing themselves for AFTA. Their membership to organizations and their practice to GAP and organic farming are playing vital roles on thier way to capacitating themselves for AFTA; and (5) some of the concerned agricultural offices conducted several training and seminars to orient the farmers on the AFTA, however, farmers are unsatisfied yet and they need more information drive to deepen their understanding on AFTA. Thus, the following recommendation were also derived: (1)There may be a need to further increase the knowledge of farmers about AFTA through massive information drive by using mass media and interpersonal communication; (2) Concerned agricultural offices are also encouraged to conduct a distribution of IEC materials for the farmers to sustain their information needs on the AFTA; (3) The national and regional agriculture office may provide a sufficient budget to support the programs in the municipalities that strengthens the farmers in facing the AFTA. Specifically, a sufficient fund for the conducts of trainings, seminars, and distribution of IEC materials may be provided; (4) Local farmers could be more cooperative in attending the requested trainings and seminars for them. Also, they are more encouraged to apply the preparatory activities suggested by their leaders or any agriculturists for the improvement of their farming system to be able to compete in the integration. (5) The LGU and/or even the other concerned agencies may adapt and use the material produced from the study that would also serve as a guide for the farmers about the AFTA concept.