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Demograpllic cllaractehtics. The comparative study of the adopters and the
nonadopters showed there were no significant differences in their general
demographic characteristics. The average age of farmers was 46 yr, and they had 6
yr of formal schooling. Farm households had an average of 6 members. The average
size of rice farms in the area was 1.4 ha. The farms of adopters were 0.6 ha larger
than the farms of nonadopters.
Fanning systems. Aside from the existing rice-based farming systems, some
farmers practiced hilly land and coconut-based farming systems. Hilly land
cultivation included perennial crops (e.g., coffee, citrus, banana, and other fruit).
Other important cropping systems practiced by the farmers were coconut
intercropped with citrus, coffee, and vegetables. Of the 26 adopters, 61% practiced
pure rice-based farming systems, 31% had a combination of rice-based and hilly
land systems, and 8% had rice-based and coconut-based farnis. Adopters had more
diversified farnis than nonadopters.
Source of lahor aild po~~r. Labor for crop production was provided by the
farmer, family members, and hired and exchange laborers. Most of the farm
operations (e.g., fertilizer and insecticide application) were carried out by the
farmer but activities such as planting and harvesting were mostly performed by
family members. Lnbor for land preparation was usually hired.
Hired labor and machinery were important resources in the community.
Generally, farmers used small power tillers for land preparation. Only 37% of the
respondents owned draft animals. For watermelon production, hired or contract
Iabor was the most common source of labor.
The wage rate for hired labor varied according to the type of farm operation.
The wage rate for land preparation using draft animals was P50/d. Hand tractors
were rented at P700/ha.
The inadequate number of tractors was identified as one of the farmers'
constraints to rice farming. Only three tractors were available for rent. These were
rented only when the tractor owners had completed their own land preparation.
This affected the timely establisliment of crops.
Source of capital. Local credit facilities were the most important sources of
capital in the area. About 72% of the farmers were dependent on informal sources
of credit; whereas, 18% derived capital from forms1 sources. Adopters used the
formal sources of credit because large amounts of capital were required for the
watermelon enterprise. The rural bank was the only source of formal credit of
adopters, but it was the least important source for nonadopters. Furthermore, the
adopters had a viable farm enterprise, which enabled them to pay for their loans.
On the other hand, the nonadopters often obtained zero-interest loans from their
relatives. Other credit sources were friends, other farmers, and private money
lenders. Some farmers did not obtain 1o:lns for fear of not being able to repay. Only