Enhancing Farmers’ Resiliency through the Farmer’s Learning Center: A Qualitative Impact Assessment of Agricultural Interventions

Abstract

Most impact assessments are done using a positivist’s approach, but interpretive designs provide rich insights from personal views of project recipients. Hence, a study was conducted to explore the impact of agricultural interventions of a university and their contribution toward farmer’s food security and increased income. This descriptive narrative research employed in-depth interviews among target participants following the guide questions formulated based on research objectives. Thematic analysis was used to bring about emerging codes, categories, and themes by using open, axial, and selective coding. The study generated six themes that serve as pieces of evidence on the impact of the extension project particularly the establishment of the Farmers' Learning Center (FLC), also known as the trial farm cum community seed bank, through bayanihan. A total of 23 different crops were grown in 2018 and planting materials were distributed to the farmers. Simultaneously, three indigenous crops namely foxtail millet, adlay and roselle were maintained in the FLC. The participants viewed FLC as a source of knowledge and at the same time they are treated as partners in development. Roselle which emerged as a resilient crop has therapeutic benefits and a potential source of income. The study highlighted the challenges encountered which include lack of market and participants’ limited technical knowledge in processing roselle. Thus, this study urges the university to continue the agricultural intervention to capacitate further the farmers and link them with agencies that offer equipment support to improve roselle processing, handling, packaging and storage.