Non-traditional approach to small scale farmers management practices

摘要

The farm management practices of small cotton farm holders in the Philippines and their low productivity are discussed, and a production model to overcome the limitations of these traditional practices and farm management is proposed. A reservoir ofcotton technologies and practices are available to suit the varying growing conditions and needs of growers, from low input manually-operated farm practices common in Africa and South East Asia to intensive highly mechanized farm practices found in the United States, Australia, Mexico and the Middle East. This variation in production practices reflects growers efforts to fit crops to the climate and soil conditions in each locality, and the available labor and farm resources. This paper attempts to describe the farm management practices typical of small cotton farm holders, and propose a production scheme that would address its limitations and raise cotton productivity, make it sustainable, efficient and competitive.