Determinants of Mulching Adoption among Cacao Farmers of Camiguin Province, Philippines

Abstract Mulching is considered as a sustainable farming practice that promotes environmental conservation and improves productivity. The study was carried out to evaluate the determinants of mulching adoption among cacao farmers in the province of Camiguin, Philippines. The study was administered to 87 out of 201 cacao farmers using stratified sampling technique in the entire province of Camiguin last March 2023. Data collected were subjected to probit regression analysis using free software RStudio and R 4.3.0, where the dependent variable was the adopters of mulching, and the independent variables were age, access to extension workers, experience in cacao farming in years, knowledge, and training of mulching. Results from the probit model revealed a positive and strong relationship between adoption and knowledge of mulching (p-value=0.01) and training of mulching (p-value=0.01). The current study provides empirical evidence that knowledge and training are two vital determinants of adoption on mulching among cacao farmers in Camiguin. Educating farmers about mulching improves their knowledge and skills and increases productivity on their farms to attain sustainable agricultural production. Further studies may be conducted to assess the economic impact of adoption on farmers’ income and well-being.