Assessing the profitability and sustainability of upland farming systems in Cambantoc subwatershed, Philippines

Abstract

Deforestation, forest and land degradation affect the provision of ecosystem services in the watersheds of Laguna Lake. The study site, Cambantoc Subwatershed, experiences unsustainable upland farming practices that worsen the flooding situation in the downstream areas. This study analyzed rice monocropping and agroforestry farming systems upstream based on measures of profitability, sustainability, and soil quality using the Benefit-Cost Analysis and Soil Changes Under Agroforestry (SCUAF) model. Data on the costs and benefits of the farming systems and the parameters used in calibrating the model were acquired through interviews and secondary data collection. The study found that monocropping is more profitable while agroforestry has better environmental benefits because it can minimize soil erosion and soil nutrient loss through time. Agroforestry is an ideal example of Nature-Based Solution to achieve sustainable farming and enhance the delivery of ecosystem services such as soil nutrient enrichment in the upstream farms and flood mitigation in the downstream areas. The results of this study can serve as a decision support for the policy makers to consider developing and implementing market-based instruments to capture the total benefits of agroforestry to both upland farmers and downstream communities.