FARM TOURISM

Act of 2016: Republic Act no. 10816

Learning Objectives:
1. The abiding policies that govern the operation and management of farms in the country.
2. Some situational examples that abides and disobeys the Republic Act No. 10816
3. The impact of agri-tourism towards the progress of rural communities and how it affects the
economy.
4. Identify the pro’s and con’s or strengths and weaknesses of farm/agricultural tourism in the
Philippines.

POLICIES
Agricultural policy describes a set of laws relating to domestic agriculture and imports of foreign
agricultural products. Governments usually implement agricultural policies with the goal of achieving
a specific outcome in the domestic agricultural product markets.
Agricultural policies use predetermined goals, objectives and pathways set by an individual or
government for the purpose of achieving a specified outcome, for the benefit of the individual(s),
society and the nations' economy at large. Agricultural policies take into consideration the primary,
secondary and tertiary processes in agricultural production. Outcomes can involve, for example, a
guaranteed supply level, price stability, product quality, product selection, land use or employment.

The Nature of Agricultural Policy Instruments Agricultural policy is implemented through five kinds
of instruments:
(1) new legislation,
(2) executive decrees,
(3) investment projects, and
(4) programs, which usually require significant numbers of field staff working with farmers, input
supplies, processors and the like, and
(5) voluntary collaboration by the private sector.
Instruments may be combined; a program may have an investment component, or may require an
executive decree before it can be carried out. Legislation and decrees define the rules of the game and
establish programs, such as guarantee funds, subsidies targeted on the poor, and the formation of
water user associations, among many other examples.

Examples of situations that abide by Republic Act No. 10816:

1. A local government unit partners with a farm tourism enterprise to develop a tourism circuit that
showcases the local food culture. Visitors can go on a food trail that highlights the different culinary
traditions in the area, and learn about the farming practices that produce the local ingredients.
(Ex: collaboration between the Municipality of Tuburan and the Tuburan Coffee Farm.)
2. A group of tourists visits a community-based ecotourism site that showcases the local flora and
fauna. The site also offers activities such as hiking, bird watching, and kayaking, all of which are
designed to promote awareness of the environment and local culture.
(Ex: Example of a community-based eco-tourism site in Cebu that showcases local flora and fauna is
the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Lapu-Lapu City. The sanctuary is a protected area that is
managed and operated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the
local community.)
Examples of situations that disobey Republic Act No. 10816:
1. A private farm opens up for visitors, but does not adhere to the health and safety standards set by
the law. Visitors are not given proper protective gear or briefed on the hazards of the farm, leading to
accidents and injuries. Also, that private farm uses harmful chemicals and pesticides in their farming
practices, which can endanger the health of visitors and farmers, as well as harm the environment.
This violates the Section 13 (b) of R.A 10816 which complies with food safety, health, hygiene,
sanitation, and hospitality management standards.
2. A government agency constructs a road to a farm tourism site in Cebu, but fails to consider the
impact of the road on the environment. For example, the road construction process damages nearby
forests and rivers, which violates the law's mandate to ensure that infrastructure support is provided in
a manner that is environmentally sustainable and protects the natural resources of the area.

The Impact of Agri-Tourism

Positive economic impacts
-Provides employment opportunities in rural areas
-Generates supply of foreign exchange -Increases income and gross national product (GNP)
-Improves rural infrastructure, facilities and services

Negative economic impacts

-Causes inflation of land value
-Raising prices on food and other products
-Frequent seasonal employment

Positive social impacts

-Creates favourable image of the countryside
-Provides recreational facilities for residents, as well as tourists
-Facilitates the process of modernization
-Provides opportunities for additional education

Negative social impacts

-Creates resentment and antagonism related to dramatic differences in wealth
-Invites moral degradation resulting in increasing crime, prostitution, social conflicts, etc.
-Causes conflicts in traditional societies and values

Positive Cultural impacts

-Encourages pride in local arts, crafts and cultural expression
-Preserves cultural heritage

Negative cultural impacts

-Loss of spiritual and cultural sense due to excessive global commercialization of products
-Abandonment of indigenous culture and adapting to modern, generally accepted parameters

Positive environmental impacts

-Justifies environmental protection and improvement
-Encourages education on value of nature-based tourism
Negative environmental impacts
-Fosters water and air pollution and solid waste
-Disrupts flora and fauna species

How farm tourism affects the economy?

Agritourism, or "farm tourism, " is a type of tourism in which travellers stay on farms as guests or take part in
activities linked to farms. The economy may be significantly impacted by this form of tourism in a number of
ways:
1.Farmers may increase their income by allowing visitors to visit their fields and diversify their sources of
income from only conventional agriculture.
2.Farm tourism has the potential to open up new employment opportunities for residents in the tourist,
hospitality, and food service industries.
3.Increasing local spending: Farm visitors may spend money on regional goods and services including
restaurants, stores, and transportation.
4.Preservation of rural communities and landscapes: Farm tourism may aid in the preservation and promotion of
the culture, heritage, and natural beauty of rural regions by drawing tourists there.

Identify Pro’s and Con’s or Strengths and Weaknesses of Farm/Agricultural Tourism in the Philippines
• The Philippines has one of the fastest growing economies in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) region. Pros or Strengths of Farm/Agricultural Tourism in the Philippines
• Promoting farm products and farming in general while potentially increasing sales
• Promotion and conservation of various local cultures and other cultural heritage.
• Incentives for conservation of natural areas
• Reliable supply of inputs

Identify Pro’s and Con’s or Strengths and Weaknesses of Farm/Agricultural Tourism in the Philippines.
• Jobs opportunities for local people and revenue increase
• Promotion of local economy
• Diversification of agricultural activities
• Education for the importance of culture and agriculture
• Improve farmer’s skills and knowledge
• Major means of foreign earnings
• Advocacy for conservation and development
• Sustainable infrastructures building for agri-tourism

Here are the disadvantages of farm tourism in the Philippines:

➢ Environmental degradation
➢ Exploitation of farmers
➢ Increased traffic
➢ Overdevelopment of rural areas
➢ Insufficient number of farm tourism sites and poor consistency in the quality of farm tourism products

Here are the disadvantages of farm tourism in the Philippines:

➢ Critical need for succession
➢ Farmers lack of entrepreneurial and marketing skills
➢ Lack of training and education for farm tourism operators

“Farming isn’t just a job. It’s a way of life. ” – Unknown