Profiling tree nurseries in northern Mindanao, the Philippines

Forestry nurseries play an important role in supporting small-scale plantation, tree farming as well as government initiated afforestation and reforestation programs. However, constraints have been identified in the forestry nursery sector in the Philippines particularly in the supply of high quality planting materials. This hindrance is being investigated to formulate intervention points as part of a continuing research project on enhancing tree seedling supply via economic and policy changes, funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). This paper presents baseline information regarding the profile of forestry nurseries in the Northern Mindanao region of the Philippines through a personal interview survey of operators of private, communal and government nurseries. Most nurseries in all nursery types are operating on a small scale and are strategically situated based on the purpose of their existence. Private nurseries, being business oriented, are located near the main road, as are government nurseries which distribute seedlings mostly without charge but in some cases for sale. Communal nurseries are mostly situated on farms since they cater for the seedling needs of their members and are therefore established far away from main roads. In terms of stability, private and government nurseries are stable compared to communal nurseries which rely on support organizations. When the support stops communal nurseries also cease to operate. There is no current policy that supports the production and use of high quality seedlings. Intervention points to address these problems are seen as necessary extension efforts in promoting the use of high quality seedlings, thereby in effect creating a strong market, training operators to increase their capability to produce high quality seedlings, and promoting and supporting the forestry nursery industry with policies such as tree nursery certification.