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MODULE 11

SITE SELECTION AND CHOICE OF CROP ENTERPRISE

A. Location and Site – Defined

Location and site tremendously influence the kind of crops grown, management practices, cropping pattern
and level of inputs needed for economic yield. A crop performs best and is least costly to produce of grown
under the most favorable environment conditions. In crop production, therefore, a grower must consider
the site and the specific environmental factors the influence plant growth and development to get yields
and maximum profit.

B. Ecological Factors
a. climate
 temperature
 rainfall
 light intensity and duration
 prevalence of wind
 relative humidity
b. topography
 contour
 elevations
 depression
 terrain drainage system
 ease of transportation
c. soil
 texture
 structure
 drainage condition
 depth
 pH
 fertility
 soil amendments
d. water
 rainfall distribution and amount
 nearness to good-continuous water supply
 deep well is preferably than river water
e. air
 free from air pollution such as: sulfur dioxide, fluorine, hydrogen, ozone, photochemical,
mercury, etc.

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C. Economic Factors
a. Cost of land
b. Local taxes
c. Available labor
d. Facilities
 Electricity
 Communication
 Equipment transportation

D. Sociological Factors
a. Population
b. Peace and order
c. Law enforcement
d. School, churches and hospitals
e. Neighborhood
f. Recreational facilities

E. Recreational Factors
a. Prevalence of pest and diseases to plant and human
b. Existing of animals
c. Weed population

The initial step prior to actual production constitutes a planning or the conduct of a feasibility study
to decide on the location and crop enterprises that will be set up. In one case, the land may be available and
the appropriate crop enterprises are decided upon. In another case, the agribusiness enterprise may have
been decided upon and the choice of the site follows.

In either case, there is a need to evaluate the physical, biological and socioeconomic conditions
existing in the area, the options that are available in terms of crop species and distinctive varieties that
would be most adaptable, and the technological inputs that will be required in growing the crops. To make
the best use of land, annual and perennial crop production may integrate livestock and agro-forest tree
species into the system.

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SITE SELECTION FOR CROP PRODUCTION

Matching the crop with the location/site for crop production

KNOW THE SITE/

LOCATION
KNOW THE CROP CHARACTERISTICS

Crop Requirements, Site Characteristics

Consideration and Concern

- Climatic Requirements - Climate

- Soil Requirements - Soil
- Biological Considerations - Physical
- Socio Economic / Cultural Considerations - Biological
- Environmental Concerns - Other Constraints to
- Other Special Requirements - Productivity

Definitions

1. Crop adaptation – the ability of a certain crop to adapt or fit into a given environment
2. Crop requirements – desirable levels of factors needed by a crop to adapt to a given environment
3. Farm plan – a blueprint on how a farm is to be developed given its objectives, resources and the
environment
4. Feasibility study – a study on how a pre-determined crop production enterprise will perform given
as assessment of the available resources of prevailing environment
5. Land capability – a measure of the ability of a piece of land and its resources to sustain a crop
production enterprise
6. Location – the actual geographic position of an agricultural site
7. Site – the localized area and microenvironment of an agriculture enterprise
8. Site evaluation – the process of assessing the sites resources and environment for developing a crop
production enterprise

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9. Site suitability – a sites ability based on its resources and environment to sustain a given crop
production enterprise

ABOUT THE CROP

1. Climatic Requirement
 Temperature – optimum temperature during growing season
 Water – total water requirements during cropping
 Light – required day length and degree of shading tolerated by the crop
 Wind – sensitive to wind movement or typhoons
30 kph wind speed favored pollination and inflorescence
60 kph wind speed plants get uprooted
2. Soil Requirement
 pH – pH range tolerated by the crop
 Soil fertility – specific nutrients needed
 Adaptation to soil problems – saline, acidic etc.
 Texture – soil texture suited to the crop
3. Biological Considerations
 Resistance / Susceptibility to pest & diseases
 Cropping patterns in which crop is suited
4. Socioeconomic/ Cultural Considerations
 Labor requirements – whole production system
 Production volume – demand and distribution
5. Environmental Concerns
 Anticipated pesticide use
 Recyclable and non-recyclable residues/ waste
6. Other Special Requirements
 Postharvest activities / processing needed

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ABOUT THE LOCATION/ SITE

1. Climate
 Diurnal/ Seasonal fluctuations in temperature
 Rainfall pattern and distribution
 Typhoon frequency
 Wind movement and velocity
2. Soil
 Soil fertility status
 Soil tesxture
 Soil pH
 Soil depth
3. Physical
 Water resources and source of irrigation
 Drainage
4. Biological
 Presence of pest and disease
 Existing cropping patterns/ farming system
 Production practices in the area
 Historical changes in cropping
5. Socioeconomic
 Labor / skills availability
 Available infrastructure related to crop production
 Nearness to market and urban areas
 Supply and demand – community preferences
 Tenurial situation / landholdings
6. Other Constraints to Productivity

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BIO-PHYSICAL FEATURES OF LAND AND CROP ADAPTATION

Crops have required their adaptive mechanisms to specific factors of climate, soil and biotic
conditions through natural evolution and man’s intervention. Therefore, crops with special adaptation
should match a given bio-physical situation.

1. Submerged condition during most of the crop’s life cycle. The adaptive species are rice, taro, water
chestnut (“apulid”), and Sesbania rostrata for green manuring. They are grown on paddy fields in
the flood plains or river catchment areas.

Most crops are sensitive to waterlogging. While jute and sorghum can tolerate periodic waterlogged
conditions, corn cannot and is sensitive to even short periods (36 hours) of water-logging.
Rambutan, durian and papaya are very sensitive to under-drainage or waterlogged conditions
whereas mango can tolerate water-logging for a certain period of time.

To diversify crop production on paddy fields in the flood plains and other low lying areas, the
technique of raising beds to avoid submergence of dryland crops has been employed. In Indonesia,
this is called the “sorjan” system in which upland crops like vegetables and peanuts are grown on
raised beds alongside submerged lowland rice. In Thailand, the raised beds on paddy land are
planted to vegetables like asparagus, grapes, and orchard trees like mangoes.

2. Humid condition and where rainfall is more uniformly distributed. This is suitable to all perennial
crops but more so far mangosteen which grows well in Mindanao and abaca which thrives in
Mindanao, Eastern Visayas and Bicol peninsula. Mango produces high quality and tasty fruits in
areas where there is a dry spell.

3. Cool temperature and mild climate in the highlands of Mt. Province, Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island
and the Bukidnon – Lanao Plateau. The suitable vegetable species are white potato, cabbage, sweet
peas, carrots, head lettuce, asparagus, etc. Heat-tolerant varieties of cabbage and white potato can
now be grown commercially ai mid-elevation and lowland areas. The suitable fruit species are litchi,
longgan, ponkan mandarin orange, strawberry, grape, and macadamia nut. Apples have been grown
successfully in the highlands in Indonesia. Grape has been highly successful crop in Thailand. Litchi
(also spelled “lychee”) grows well in Mt. Province and some trees have borne fruits in Laguna
province.

4. Coastal areas. Coconut, cashew, tamarind and “talisay” (Terminalia catappa), a source of dye for
clothing materials, can thrive well since they can tolerate saline conditions. The limit in elevation for
coconut is 600m, beyond which the plant may not exhibit reproductive development. Nipa palm
(Nympha fruticans) the sap of which is used as fermented beverage or vinegar, thrives well in saline
areas.

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5. Partial shade. Ginger, black pepper, vanilla, lanzones, rambutan, mangosteen, cacao, coffee,
banana, arrowroot, patchouli and many other crops tolerate or require shade and an be grown
under coconut trees, ipil-ipil and madre de cacao (Gliricidia sepium).

6. Low pH (4.3 to 5) as in Bukidnon. The tolerant crops are rubber, pineapple, cassava, sweet potato
and Stylosanthes bumilis, a forage legume that modulates at pH 4.0 to 4.5. Acid-tolerant varieties of
crops have been developed in a number of research institutions: corn in CIMMYT, Mexico; Institute
of Plant Breeding (IPB), UPLB and Central Mindanao University; mungbean, peanut and cowpea in
IPB, UPLB; and rice in IRRI, Philippines and CIAT, Columbia.

7. Light-textured soils. Rootcrops, asparagus, legumes and corn are particularly adaptive to this type of
soil.

8. Poor or stony soils. Cashew and forage legumes can adapt to these soil types. “Kaong” or palm sugar
(Areca pinnata) which has a commercial potential, would be a good candidate crop.

9. Drought-prone areas. Sorghum, cashew, pineapple, sweet potato, pigeon pea or kadios, cowpea,
mungbean, napier or elephant grass as forage crop are tolerant of such condition.

10. Photoperiod or daylenght. Soybeans, winged beans, kenaf, coffee, pineapple, chrysanthemum and
some rice varieties are photoperiod responsive and will flower only when daylenght has become
shorter than twelve hours. Bulb formation in onions is hastened by longer days. In yams (ubi), long
days favor vine development whereas short days hasten tuberization.

11. Problem soils. These include: rice-growing areas along the sea coasts in which the soil has become
saline; soils that are deficient in zinc, phosphorus and iron; and soils that are toxic due to high
concentration of iron, manganese and aluminum. Specific varieties of rice have been selected for
adaptation to these conditions.

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CROPS THAT HAVE BECOME DOMINANT IN CERTAIN AREAS

Setting up new production enterprises in areas where certain crops have become dominant would
be advantageous because of proven adaptation of the crop and experience of the farmers in the area.

Examples are:

 Tobacco and garlic in Ilocos region down to La Union and Pangasinan;

 Peanut in Quirino Province, Isabela, Cagayan Valley and Siquijor Island;
 Sugarcane in Negros, Tarlac-Pampanga and Batangas;
 Mango in Guimaras Island, Cebu and Central Luzon;
 Pili nut in Albay and Camarines Sur, Bicol;
 Pineapple in Cavite, Laguna, Bukidnon and General Santos, Cotabato;
 Abaca in Bicol, Leyte and Mindanao; massive planting was tried in the late 1800s to early 1900s in
Central Luzon but it failed;
 Export banana in Davao and Bukidnon province;
 Corn in Cagayan Valley and Mindanao.

Selection of location and site

Location is a geographical position, given certain physical (climate and soil), biological and
socioeconomic factors at the macro-level. Site is the localized area with its microenvironments.

There are two possible cases in starting a crop production enterprise:

Case 1. The crop enterprise is first decided upon then a location is chosen.

Case 2. The area is an existing farm property or a chosen base of operation, then the most suitable
crops are identified. A matching of the potentials of the land with the suitability of certain crops is involved.

In Case 1, the market objective is already set and the feasibility study for crop production and processing
may have been undertaken. A number of actual cases can be cited.

1. Setting up of a pineapple plantation and cannery mainly for export with the choice of Bukidnon for
one multinational company and Genaral Santos, Cotabato, for the other company. The main
considerations at the time were the availability of large tracts of land for leasehold and access to
port facilities.
2. Banana for export by multinational and Filipino owned corporations through contract farming
arrangements with private growers. Davao and Bukidnon have become the preferred site. The area
is typhoon-free, estate farmers are available and port facilities are accessible.
3. Feedmills, corn and rootcrop based, in contract growing with farmers. There are many large,
medium sized and small feedmillls which operate in this manner. It used to be that the major
feedmills located their mills around Metro Manila or Mandaue and Cebu City, far removed from the
production areas of Mindanao and Cagayan Valley. Later, these feedmills located their operations in

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major corn-growing areas in Bukidnon and Cotabato and other places. A large multinational firm is
now operating in Pangasinan and in due time the site will be an important corn growing area.
4. Tomato paste processing plant in Sta. Maria Pangasinan and Sarrat, Ilocos Sur. Fresh tomato is
supplied through contract-growing with farmers. In some farms, fresh yield of processing tomatoes
has reached 70t/ha goal, to be viable. Another processing plant has been set up in Manolo Fortich,
Bukidnon.
5. Growing of tomatoes in Claveria, Miasamis Occidental and Bukidnon for shipment to Manila during
the wet season months when supply is very limited and prices are high. Small farmers in San Jose,
Nueva Ecija, Liliw, Louisiana and Majayjay, Laguna have learned to grow potatoes along the hillsides
during the wet-season months and make a good business out of it.
6. Soybean production in Cotabato, Mindanao to supply the needs of a multinational food company
that processes soybean in combination with dairy products into instant beverage. Due to a favorable
price inentive, soybean yields of 1.5t/ha to 2.0t/ha at farmers’ fields have been obtained. The high
yields broke the myth that soybeans cannot be grown profitably in the Philippines.
7. A noodle processing plant which is sweet-potato based has been established by a foreign firm in
Pangasinan. Sweet potato growing may soon become an important industry in Pangasinan and
Tarlac-Pampanga area.
8. Development of 2000-ha asparagus industry in General Santos, Cotabato, for export to Japan
through contract-growing arrangement with growers.

In identifying the suitable site, the prospectors looked at the physical aspects of climate, soil,
topography and elevation, the biological factors, the infrastructure like road networks and port facilities and
the socioeconomic profile of the farmers in the community. An entrepreneur embarked on white potato
growing in the highlands of Bukidnon but he had to bring in a few farmers from Mt. Province who were
experienced in growing the crop. Another migrant farmer from Benguet pioneered white potato cultivation
in Kapatagan, Davao Sur, along the slopes of Mt. Apo. Today, the area has about 1000 ha of potato, the
second largest concentration of potato farms in the Philippines.

In Case 2, the site is given and suitable crops are identified taking into consideration a number of
factors.

FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN SITE EVALUATION

1. Climate

a. Amount of rainfall (annual and monthly pattern); this should be checked with the nearest
agroclimatic station of PAGASA;
b. Frequency of typhoons passing in the area;
c. Wind velocity and direction.

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2. Physical factors

a. Depth of surface soil: for annuals, relatively shallow depths are all right but for perennials
greater depths would be advantageous;
b. Drainage: important for crops that are sensitive to waterlogging;
c. Soil fertility status:

Adequate amount of soil samples may be collected and sent to the Bureau of Soils for
determination of:

1) Texture - % of clay, silt and sand;

2) pH – the ideal range is 5 to 8.5;
3) mineral and nutrient composition;
4) organic matter content: the range should be 1% to 5%

3. Biological factors

a. Cropping pattern being followed. One cannot deviate much unless the community, as a whole,
changes the pattern. The risks from pest damage in the field are greater if planting is not
synchronized with that of the community.
b. Production practices in the area. There must be good reasons for adopting existing practices in
the area. Information on yields of the best farms in the area must be obtained and used as the
standard for upgrading operations.
c. Pest and disease problems in the area. A case in point is the widespread papaya ring spot virus
disease in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and the adjoining provinces up to Bicol. Large-scale papaya
production should avoid these areas.

4. Socioeconomic factors

a. Labor supply situation and level of skills;

b. Accessibility of farm to transportation facilities;
c. Nearness to population centers as markets;
d. Local market situation and preferences of the populace. Supply and demand situations should
be known so that operations can be adjusted for harvesting to coincide with the slack periods of
supply when prices are high.

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Choice of crop enterprises based on production costs and returns

A prospective has to have some idea of the comparative profitably of growing various crops so he
can make wise decisions in the use of his resources.

Cereal crop enterprises may have a lower profitably rate but these crops have the advantage of long
shelf-life and can await better prices. Vegetable and fruit crops, on the other hand, are highly perishable and
large scale production (per hectare) is usually limited and losses can be great.

Use of high levels of technology involving hybrid varieties and high rates of input application
provides a higher net income and rate of return on investment (ROI).

The ROI in farming can be compared to putting your money in a bank to earn interest. The ROI for
rice is 27% but the period covered is only four months. Earned interest on fixed term-deposits in a bank can
only earn from 7% to 9% annually. But of course the risk of losing money is greater in farming than in a bank
interest.

How to get organized

After a thorough evaluation of the conditions of the site, one can decide what crops to grow, the
systems to follow, the facilities to acquire and the capital investment to raise. Part of the decision will be
based on initial experience.

Before going to full-scale operation, it is better undertake experimental plantings of a few hectares
first to get a grasp of the actual situations. In these trial plantings, technological management schemes may
be applied and certain adjustments made as the needs arise. A few seasons of actual growing and gradual
expansion should be sufficient to provide the confidence towards full-scale operation of the farming
enterprise.

To cite some misjudgments in decision-making, a highly mechanized farm in Cotabato, Mindanao

some years back decided on mechanized growing and harvesting of soybeans and mungbeans on a 200 ha
portion of the farm. The operation was highly successful for a number of growing seasons when the
mechanical harvester was in good running condition. At one unfortunate harvesting operation, however, the
conveyor belt broke down and it took several weeks before a new belt and accessories could be flown in
from the German maker of the harvester. Since labor was not plentiful in the area, much of the mungbean
crop was lost. If the problems on break-downs were anticipated, the operations could have continued on
successfully.

There are many options in starting a farming enterprise based on the scale of operations and how
one can get organized. A small farming venture of a few hectares can rely on the use of a combination of
animal and small tractor power and mechanical implements as well as native implements. Some operators
would like to start bigger and be competitive by putting together owned or leased lands comprising about
25 ha or bigger and then invest on a second-hand reconditioned four-wheeled tractor and attachments.

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Many corporate farms, on the other hand, are larger and highly mechanized. One farm in Isabela, for
instance, operates a combine-harvester and is equipped with the latest of precision planters.

Small and medium-scale farmers can go into contract-growing of crops with processing and
exporting companies operating in the farming community. This kind of business relationship is mutually
beneficial to the company and the contract growers. This is how the sugar industry has successfully
operated in the Philippines for quite some time, in which in the cane planters and millers have become
partners. An example is of a recent case in growing processing tomatoes for tomato-patste manufacture.
Some 3500 farmers in Ilocos got involved in contract-growing of tomatoes to supply the requirements of a
company. Part of the agreement allowed the growers to get assistance in sourcing certified seeds, fertilizer
and other farm inputs and technical information from the tomato paste company. In turn, the marketing
agreement required the growers to sell their tomatoes at a stipulated price to meet quality specifications:
the tomatoes must be consistent in color inside and out: they should be free of black rot infection and insect
damage: more than 50% of the surface area must be sun-dried: the fruits must be two inches or wider in
diameter. At purchase time, the company deducts from the value of the product the cost of inputs advanced
to the farmer, at no earned interest.

Contract-farming can be very successful for as long as the terms of the contract between parties are
not violated. In some instances, the buying company operates in an unscrupulous manner and does not live
up to the agreed price of the commodity at harvest time. This is what happened to the export ginger
industry some years back. In other instances, it is the contract0-growers who dishonor the contract and
channel their produce to outside markets where prices are more favorable compared to the agreement
price. This mal-practice has been termed as “pole-vaulting” in contract agreement relations.

References:

PCARRD, 1986, Environment Adaptation of Crops

IRRI. 1977. Symposium on Cropping System Research for the Asian Rice Farmers. Los Banos, Laguna.

HARTMAN, HT, D.E Kester & F.T Davies 1997. Plant propagation and practices.

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TOP PRODUCING PROVINCE

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority (Latest Data as of January 19, 2017)

Unit: metric tons

Agusan Del Sur – Oil Palm Maguindanao – Kangkong

Agusan Del Sur – Gabi Negros Occidental – Sugarcane
Albay – Squash North Cotabato – Banana (Lakatan)
Albay – Orchids Nueva Ecija – Ampalaya
Batangas – Gourd Nueva Ecija – Okra
Benguet – Brocolli Nueva Ecija – Onion
Benguet – Chrysantemum Nueva Vizcaya – Mandarin
Benguet – Carrots Oriental Mindoro – Calamansi
Benguet – Cauliflower Palawan – Cashew
Benguet – Cabbage Pangasinan – Mango
Benguet – Gladiola Pangasinan – Eggplant
Benguet – Habitchuelas Pangasinan – Mango (Carabao)
Benguet – Roses Pangasinan – Peanut
Benguet – Pechay (Chinese) Quezon – Coconut
Benguet – White Potato Sorsogon – Pili nut
Bohol – Ubi South Cotabato – Asparagus
Bukidnon – Tomato South Cotabato – Papaya
Bukidnon – Pineapple Sultan Kudarat – Coffee (Arabica)
Bukidnon – Lettuce Sultan Kudarat – Coffee (Robusta)
Bulacan – String Beans Sulu – Coffee (Excelsa)
Capiz – Cotton Sulu – Coffee (Liberica)
Catanduanes – Abaca Sulu – Mangosteen
Camarines Norte – Orange Zamboanga del Norte – Lanzones
Camarines Norte – Pechay(Native) Zamboanga del Norte – Rambutan
Davao del Norte – Durian Zamboangga Sibugay – Rubber
Davao del Norte – Banana
Davao del Norte – Banana (Cavendish)
Davao del Sur – Cacao
Davao del Sur – Cassava
Davao del Sur – Banana (Saba)
Ilocos Norte – Tamarind
Ilocos Norte – Garlic
Ilocos Sur – Tabacco (Virginia)
Ilocos Sur – Tobacco
Iloilo – Water melon
Isabela – Mongo
Laguna – Radish
Lanao del Norte – Ginger
Lanao del Sur – Cassava
La Union – Tabacco (Native)
Leyte – Sweet potato

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