FARMERS' ADOPTION ON BACKYARD DRAGON FRUIT PRODUCTION IN GENERAL SANTOS CITY

The study sought to find out the farmers affecting the adoption of dragon fruit production in General Santos City. The respondents are the 20 adopters' households that grow dragon fruits and 40 non-adopters that grow any form of crop. The study used snowball and random sampling. In collecting and gathering the data, interview was conducted using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and Probit regression were employed in analyzing data. Cost and return analysis were used in determining the profitability. The result shows that among the factors being analyzed, age, education, years in farming, farming income, gender and tenurial status was significant. In cost and return analysis, in a one-hectare land it shows that dragon fruit production is profitable. The production of dragon fruit has a gross profit of Php 1,950,000, an expense amounting Php 461,000 and a net income of Php 1,489,000 in a year. It has a 222.99% return of investment. Results also show that in a 400m2 of land, dragon fruit production is highly profitable. The production of dragon fruit has a gross profit of Php 180,000, an expense of Php 28,000, and a net income of Php 152,000 in a year. It has 442.86% return of investment. Hence, government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture and the City Agriculture Office may educate farmers of both genders at an early age on dragon fruit and dragon fruit farming itself. Additional workshops, extensive trainings, seminars, and education on marketing strategies such as promotional assistance from the government may be provided to dragon fruit farmers, because non-adopter families are willing to adopt dragon fruit farming. Provisions of free seedlings and establishing a farmers' association for dragon fruit farmers, which would offer regular trainings and seminars may also be provided by the government and a conduct of future researches may include market and economic analysis about dragon fruit farming.