Farmers’ Crop Selection and Its Alignment with Soil-Based Crop Suitability Recommendations in Barangay Bantug, Science City of Muñoz, Philippines

This study focused on how farmers in Barangay Bantug, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija about their crop selection and whether their choices align with recommendations based on an existing study entitled “GIS-based Mapping of Crop Suitability Rating for the Re-Delineated Soil Types in Barangay Bantug”. Using interviews and field observations involving 4 respondents, including local farmers and barangay officials, the responses show that rice is the most commonly planted crop. Even though the soil could support a wider variety of crops, farmers tend to only partially follow the recommended crop suitability guidelines. Their choices are shaped by factors like access to irrigation, economical factors, weather risks such as typhoons, and long-standing habits of rice farming. Overall, the responses show that while there is potential for crop diversification, farmers continue to prioritize rice because it is reliable and a crop they are familiar with. Therefore, the researchers recommend that farmers should follow soil-based crop recommendations to boost their efficiency in cultivating crops.