The impact of agricultural extension devolution on poverty alleviation in San Juan, Siquijor, Philippines

This paper analyzes the impact of devolving agricultural extension services on poverty alleviation in San Juan, Siquijor, Philippines. Additionally, it examines the effects before and after devolution, with a focus on poverty reduction, agricultural productivity, and income growth. The study employed a comprehensive survey questionnaire, administered through face-to-face interviews, to investigate the challenges faced by farmers in delivering agrarian services. Furthermore, the study utilized secondary data from various sources to collect information on the characteristics of agricultural services and methods for enhancement. It analyzed it using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. Results revealed that, on average, 53.5% of the farmers stated that agricultural extension services helped them improve their productivity, while 46.5% of them were not aided. The findings underscore critical elements, including the sufficiency of extension services, financial assistance, and market accessibility, indicating that although devolution has yielded specific enhancements, substantial deficiencies persist in meeting farmers’ demands. In addition, the findings underscore the need to enhance the capacities and resources of local government units to fully realize the potential of devolution in alleviating poverty through sustainable agricultural development. Suggestions to improve agricultural initiatives and advance poverty reduction in San Juan, Siquijor, include mitigating the effects of climate change, enhancing market accessibility, providing cost-effective inputs, strengthening the capabilities of local government units, expanding extension services, upgrading infrastructure, and promoting enhanced collaboration among stakeholders.