Challenges and Opportunities of Vegetable Production in Isabela City, Basilan Province, Philippines

S.A. Bendijo, R.C. Aringoy, C . N. Floriano, A.O. Rebuza, D.C. Recorte and E.P. Tabal

International Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Research, 2024, vol. 10, issue 05

Abstract: A vital center of commerce and industry, City of Isabela, Basilan Province, Philippines also faces food insecurity issues as a result of urbanization, land use change and low food output, while demand for vegetables is steadily rising. Meeting this demand, imports of assorted vegetables increased to more than 95% coming from various sources in Mindanao passing through the ports of Zamboanga City, Philippines. These are challenges in vegetable production, while it plays a crucial role in its local economy being an alternative source of earning livelihood, an important income generation and employment opportunities to majority in the rural areas. This paper presents various constraints including the experiences and lessons learned from smallholder farmers on the status of vegetable production. Utilizing data from previous survey records, various case studies, annual reports, project documents and recorded narratives including the identification of vegetable growers, production sites and market distribution channels. Findings highlight major constraints such as limited access to agricultural inputs, market linkages and transportation infrastructures. Despite these constraints, the vegetable sector is assured of opportunities for growth through government initiatives in logistics, farm inputs and technical support. Keeping local farmers to get their expected returns, this study emphasized the need for government intervention to bolster market linkages, incentivize local production and support smallholder farmers to overcome existing constraints and make the City of Isabela a key contributor to sustainable vegetable production. Future policy measures and government intervention will help ensure stable market price, production approaches and quality standards. Further development may be strengthened through enhanced capacity building, forge partnerships with institutional buyers and the creation of an enabling environment to generate insights and dynamic market information toward a sustainable development of smallholder production systems in the City of Isabela, Basilan Province, Philippines.

Keywords: Agribusiness; Community/Rural/Urban Development; Food Security and Poverty; Sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:ijaeri:348585

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.348585

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