Population Growth In Bulacan

This chapter is an overview of previous researches and studies which have relevance to my chosen topic. The following information will be helpful for formulating a theoretical scheme concerning the effects of population growth on agriculture in Bulacan. The data and facts presented can help determine and clarify key concepts and terms that will be vital in understanding the nature of the topic.

The relationship between population and agriculture cannot be deem as straightforward. There are two perspectives when it comes to it, the first view points out that population is dependent on agriculture while the other is that conditions of agriculture and livelihood are dependent on population (Nwajiuba, 2006). The first view therefore suggests that

As the areas for agricultural purposes continue to decrease, farmers would need to use the same land repeatedly through intensive cultivation. Upon using this, the farmers must make use of the mechanized farming and make a sudden shift from their traditional farming system (Karim, 2013). Karim highlighted that:

“With the increase of population, people put continuous pressure on land, without allowing them any time off. The resulting consequence is the deterioration of the soil which keeps the land fully dependent on chemical fertilizer and uncontrolled irrigation. Therefore, peasants moving towards mechanized farming no longer depend on seasonal rain and also at the same time, are totally dislodged from indigenous farming mechanisms. Due to mechanized farming, crop production increases, yet a complimentary notion develops when people usually care less about reducing the population” (2013, p.17).

Boserup (1965, p.54) also added that the cultivators must adapt and keep up with the new methods that are being introduced moreover with regards to the community they must also need to handle the burden of a high investment rate as well as the changes in land

Braun et al. (1991) stated that, “there is an increased land scarcity in the study area due to rapid population growth but can still be substantially compensated for by intensification of labor and capital input per unit of land” (p. 12). The introduction of indigenous mechanism as a solution to land scarcity is ought to be helpful for increasing labor productivity however Braun et al. (1991) stresses that there is a need for technological change. Braun et al. (1991) also noted that “a higher population density makes possible more rapid attainment of gains from specialization and the emergence of a rural service sector”. In addition, Haggblade and Hazel (1987) stated that “high population density may limit the number of households able to survive from agriculture alone, thus forcing some into nonfarm activities to supplement income” (as cited in Braun et al. 1991, p. 15). Lastly, Braun et al. (1991) emphasized that:

With a population growth of 3.3 percent a year in the 1980s, the already very limited land base becomes more and more a constraint to agricultural growth and income generation. The obvious way out of this dilemma appears to be a combination of policies that will lead to reduced population growth, increased land productivity through technological change in agriculture, conversion of land resources, and increased exploitation of the potentials of specialization in the rural economy (p.