Evaluating Targeting Efficiency in Agricultural Intervention Programs: Evidence from the SAAD Program in the Philippines.

This study evaluates the targeting efficiency of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program in the Philippines by identifying the socio-economic and institutional factors that influence access among rural farmers. As a government-led intervention, SAAD aims to reduce poverty and improve food security by prioritizing marginalized farmers in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. Utilizing a multistage sampling approach, the study surveyed 250 respondents, comprising both beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries, in Leyte Province, selected due to its high poverty incidence. A binary logistic regression model was applied to estimate the probability of program participation based on gender, poverty status, land tenure, institutional affiliation, and other household characteristics. The findings indicate that program access is significantly influenced by gender, landownership, multidimensional poverty status, and membership in farmer associations. Female and severely poor farmers were more likely to benefit from the program, suggesting that SAAD aligns with its pro-poor targeting mandate. Membership in farmer associations also emerged as a strong predictor of access, reinforcing the importance of social capital. Conversely, households with higher income from vegetable farming were less likely to be included, indicating a deliberate targeting away from relatively better-off farmers. These findings highlight the relative success of SAAD in reaching vulnerable groups while suggesting the need for improvements in program coverage, particularly for youth and non-affiliated farmers. The study contributes to the literature on agricultural development by providing empirical evidence on beneficiary selection mechanisms and offering actionable insights for enhancing the equity and effectiveness of rural development interventions in the Philippines.