Adaptation Strategies to Changing Environment by an Organic Farm in Laguna, Philippines

Abstract

With the increasing awareness of consumers for an alternative lifestyle and the enactment of the Organic Agricultural Act of 2010, more and more farmers are expected to shift to organic farming (OF) in the Philippines. However, shifting to OF and maintaning an organic farm are not easy tasks due to various issues such as lack of knowledge on suitable production technologies, unstable supply, lack of markets, intensive labor inputs and difficulty in controlling weeds, pests and diseases to name a few. Despite these issues, some organic farms were able to sustain operations. This study aims to determine different farm business strategies that enabled C Farm (CF) to remain in business and continue to grow given the changing business environment. This paper does not limit its scope to the strategies adopted by CF to cope with climate changes, but this also focuses on the changes in business strategies despite the challenges in the economic, technological and socio-cultural environment. The case study approach is done through in-depth interviews with company owners, multiple site visits and observations. Furthermore, evaluation of the opportunities and threats in a business environment was also done to identify suited strategies implemented by CF. This study is a significant tool for potential OF investors in determining best practices in the OF business. Farm visits and key informant interviews revealed that CF was able to adopt innovative production, marketing, financing and community relationship strategies, which are the key factors in business survival and growth. Positioned as an agritourism farm, it was able to deal with the presssures of the external environment by integrating farm operations; crafting strategies to increase and sustain production through ecological means; adopting keen market sensing strategies; increasing financing through joint ventures and strengthening community relations by involving them in the various financing and operations activities.