Fifteenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

Rice and vegetable farming are traditional income sources in the Philippines. Farmers in the study site had income only after harvesting of farm produce. Incessant income shortage led to a poverty trap. Sampaguita livelihood is an alternative income source to overcome chronic poverty. The research revealed a story about a resilience journey of addressing poverty and other livelihood risks to attain wellbeing. The constructivist methodology of the research used mixed qualitative and quantitative methods to explore the constructs and meanings of risks, resilience and well-being. As sampaguita growing became a major income source to overcome poverty risk, other risks were perceived - frequent pesticide spraying that caused pest emergence and resistance, human and environmental health problems; extreme and unpredictable weather conditions; variable production level; and erratic market prices. The emerged resilience processes to reduce the adverse effects of livelihood risks were: learning livelihood change, building social support mechanisms, evolving self-organizations, and nurturing adaptation learning. Resilience transition enhanced wellbeing. Sampaguita growers narrated objective, subjective and interactive well-being dimensions. Wellbeing enhancement reflects the development of livelihood assets encompassing social, economic, human, and natural capitals. An improved understanding of wellbeing dynamics informed policy interventions aims to direct the sampaguita growing community on a more favorable trajectory out of chronic poverty and towards a more sustainable livelihood management.