Nature and objectives of ACIAR Project ASEM/2003/052: Improving financial returns to smallholder tree farmers in the Philippines

This paper provides an overview of ASEM/2003/052 – Improving Financial Returns to Smallholder Tree Farmers in the Philippines funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), which commenced on 1 January 2004 and ran until 31 December 2008. ASEM/2003/052 involved a series of interrelated research activities investigating measures to improve financial returns to smallholder tree farmers in the Philippines. This paper discusses the main drivers for current low returns to smallholders that have been identified from research and extensive consultations with stakeholders. In particular, the effects of regulations on market access and product quality appear to be the dominant constraints on smallholders receiving higher returns from their existing tree farms. The paper then outlines the general research strategy that was developed to address these constraints by improving the implementation of policy, helping smallholders access markets and through longer term policy initiatives.