Assessing the Conditions of Small-Scale Lowland Vegetable Growers in Cagayan Province’s Leading Municipalities: A Foundation for Science and Technology-Based Agricultural Interventions

Abstract

This study profile of the lowland vegetable growers in the top three growing municipalities in Cagayan province as a basis for designing science and technology-based interventions. It aimed to analyze the socio-demographic profile, agricultural practices, and economic conditions of lowland vegetable growers in Cagayan’s top three municipalities: Sto. Nino, Lal-lo, and Solana. The study involved 150 vegetable growers who had been engaged in production for at least three years, utilizing a structured questionnaire for data collection through personal interviews. In Cagayan province, most lowland vegetable growers are middle-aged males, married, and predominantly Roman Catholic, with most maintaining nuclear families. Nearly all are enrolled in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), yet only a third have crop insurance, and very few benefit from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). Engaged in year-round vegetable farming on an average of half a hectare, they have been in the industry for nearly two decades. While they recognize various sources for technical information and farm inputs, most have not attended relevant training and rely on chemical-based practices rather than Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). These farmers face significant challenges, including damage from floods, typhoons, pests, and insufficient water supply, which contribute to low yields and minimal economic returns. They transport their products to market using hand tractors and set prices based on word-of-mouth and trader influence. Despite claiming sufficient capital, they incur low investments per hectare, resulting in limited profitability. The findings suggest that a Science and Technology-based interventions has been proposed as an intervention strategy to enhance lowland vegetable production in the region.