Basic Upland Problems

BASIC UPLAND PROBLEMS

by Antonio C. Antonio

January 28, 2015

In most studies to determine the basic problems in the uplands, four problems areas have consistently been identified.  There are other problems that are present in some studies but absent in others.  These are: (1) The comparative productivity of upland areas compared to low-lying or flat areas; (2) The land tenure issues considering that most upland and forest areas are part of the public domain; (3) The absence of banking institution services in the uplands… considered remote; and, (4) The difficulties in establishing marketing systems for upland products.

PRODUCTIVITY – The causes of productivity problems in the uplands are: (a) Eroded and acidic soil; (b) Steep slopes; (c) Prevalence of cogon and bagokbok; (d) Slash-and-burn cultivation; and, (e) Uplands are basically rainfed.  The ill effects of these causes are: (1) Land use conversion in the uplands to expand the area for agricultural purposes; and, (2) Shorter fallow periods.

LAND TENURE – There is only one identified cause of land tenure which is the fact that most upland and forest areas are public areas.  The ill effects of land tenure problems are: (1) The tendency of upland dwellers and business entities favors cash crops over long-term crops like trees and other timber products; and, (2) The wanton clearing of forest lands by upland dwellers just to establish ownership… a land tenure strategy which has dire environmental/degradation effects.

CREDIT AVAILABILITY – The upland and forest areas are remote and are owned by the State, not the upland dwellers.  Being such, these land holdings cannot be presented for use as collaterals with banking and lending institutions.  As a result, the following ill effects were noted: (1) Ignorance of banking procedures and requirements; (2) Low capacity on the part of the upland dwellers to pay amortizations because of the rainfed terrain and seasonal crop character and nature of the uplands; (3) Marginal and low-input farming conditions in the uplands; (4) Planting of short-term crops; (5) Difficulty in acquiring work animals; and, (6) Exploitation of upland farmers by middlemen and financiers.  These, of course, are on the pretext that public land can be used as collateral.

MARKETING – Marketing problems are brought about by the remote, isolated and poor roads and accessibility.  These landscape characteristics account for marketing problems for upland dwellers.  Poor roads or the non-existence of roads bring about the following ill effects: (1) Poor or non-existent post-harvest facilities which do not add value to upland products; (2) Improper handling of upland produce which results to wastage; (3) Lack of strategic market information; and, (4) Low returns to upland farming activities.

These consistently identified upland issues and concerns are the basic upland problems.

Just my little thoughts…

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