Description

Summary: Agriculture as a basis for rapid economic growth in the Philippines requires both productivity revolution in smallholder farming, innovative policies and political commitment. Vegetable-Agroforestry (VAF) system is a viable farming system that integrates vegetables in tree-based systems, and vice versa. The system provides multiple benefits, including provision of

micronutrients to the diet of the rural community and enhancement of on-farm biodiversity and environmental sustainability. However, its viability is constrained by various factors, including

farmers inability to invest in the system, inadequate institutional structures to facilitate information flow, and lack of market incentives. Policy incentives are thus, needed to stimulate smallholder investments in VAF system. This brief presents the policy incentives, disincentives and gaps in the context of smallholder investments in VAF system.