The economics of timeliness in the crop intensification of rainfed farms in Iloilo, Central Philippines

Abstract

The main purpose of this study has been to investigate the role of timeliness in the crop intensification of rainfed farms in Iloilo, Central Philippines. Specifically, it undertakes an economic evaluation of reducing the delay in crop establishment by comparatively estimating the additional benefits between power tiller use and carabao in land preparation. A simulation model of rice crop growth is used to predict yield estimates by incorporating established functional growth relationships, local environmental determinants (landscape positions of field), and management criteria given 31 years' annual rainfall data to account for variability. The simulated yields are then economically evaluated to determine the level of profitability (additional returns) by using time and partial budgeting techniques. In general, yields were higher and stable in lower field positions using a shorter turn-around period (TAP) of crop establishment. The inverse relationship between grain yield and TAP, grain yield and landscape position (LP) was mainly due to (i) Water availability in the field, and (ii) Timeliness of crop establishment. Specification of the cropping strategy, i.e. TAP's of 5,10,20 and 30 days, showed that the shorter the TAP, the higher the additional returns in using carabao. To compare the power tillers (7 TAP), Additional Returns were better than 10,20 and 30 but lower than 5 TAP of carabao. This suggests that the time saved in reducing the delay in TAP, compensated for the cost of using both 5 TAP and power tillers, in terms of higher