Rebranding Siquijor Produce to Organic Farming: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

This study investigates how branding and marketing influence organic certification readiness and market access among registered partner-farmers of the Department of Agriculture in Siquijor Province, Philippines. Anchored on the Pagente Organic Farming Model (2025), the research highlights the role of integrated practices—pest management, fertilizer use, record-keeping, and product presentation—in enhancing farmer participation in sustainable organic agriculture. Employing a descriptive-comparative quantitative design, the study surveyed the entire population of DA-registered partner-farmers in Siquijor using a structured and validated questionnaire (Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.864). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, weighted means, and path analysis to identify key predictors of organic labelling readiness. Results showed strong adoption of organic practices in pest control (M = 4.96), fertilizer use (M = 4.81), and record-keeping (M = 4.51), while branding and marketing scored lower (M = 3.87), suggesting critical gaps in market-oriented competencies. Path analysis identified branding and marketing (β = 0.34, p = 0.01) and pest control (β = 0.33, p = 0.01) as the most significant predictors of certification readiness. Despite farmers’ strong ecological practices, limited access to certification, market platforms, and branding tools remains a barrier to full organic integration. The study recommends targeted interventions such as branding workshops, cooperative marketing hubs, simplified certification pathways, low-cost organic fertilizer promotion, and improved market access through digital and local channels. Funded solely by the author, the research calls for future studies to explore the long-term socio-economic and technological impacts of these strategies in Siquijor and similar emerging organic farming communities.