Author : Palafox, Ma. Elizabeth T.

Summary : The Agroforestry Project component of the Program on Strengthening Applied Research and Training for the Development of Dryland Agriculture in Ilocos Norte was studied to determine the following: 1) the extent of participation of project participants and the factors affecting such participation; 2) the rate of survival of agroforestry crops and the biophysical factors affecting it; 3) the increase in income of participants and; 4) the impact of project performance on sustainability, productivity, and equity. Respondents were 13 percent (n=34) of the total population (N = 451). Seventeen of them were farmer-cooperators of the agroforestry project. Data on soil properties and survival rates of trees were taken from the demonstration site. Some informations were taken from secondary sources. Descriptive statistics, correlation and regression, and percentage difference were used in the data analysis. The factors that significantly affected the extent of participation were age, education, household size, and land size. Survival of the agroforestry crops was significantly affected by soil pH and the amount of P and K in the soil. Rainfall variation partly explained variation in survival percentages. Species richness had no significant effect on the survival of agroforestry crops. The increase in income of the respondents was found to be brought about by the increased income from the lowland farm and not from the agroforestry farm or by other livelihood activities of the project. Results also showed that the project is ecologically sustainable, as indicated by the extent of soil and water conservation. For the impact on productivity, there was a minimal increase in terms of income from agroforestry farms. Most of the respondents' income were derived from other on-farm activities in the lowland. Equity in income distribution was found to have improved and based on the benefits received from the project, there was a relatively equitable income among all farmer-cooperators.