MARKET CONSTRAINTS AND INSTITUTIONAL GAPS IN INDIGENOUS ORGANIC FARMING SYSTEMS IN CENTRAL LUZON, PHILIPPINES

Abstract Indigenous organic farming systems in the Philippines are often characterized by low external input use and reliance on traditional ecological knowledge. However, limited empirical evidence exists regarding the structural barriers that constrain their economic sustainability and institutional integration. This study analyzed market constraints and institutional gaps affecting three Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) in Central Luzon—the Kalanguya, Ilongot, and Ayta Sambal—engaged in organic farming practices. Using a mixed-methods approach involving complete enumeration surveys (n = 104), focus group discussions, field observation, and thematic analysis, the study examined socio-economic conditions, marketing arrangements, transport systems, and alignment of government interventions with community needs. Results revealed four major structural constraints: (1) absence of stable buyers and lack of organic price premiums; (2) transport and infrastructure limitations resulting in high transaction costs and price suppression; (3) limited post-harvest facilities and storage systems; and (4) institutional misalignment between local government organic programs and indigenous production realities. Organic produce was frequently sold at prices comparable to conventionally grown products, reducing incentives for certification or system scaling. Transport burdens, particularly among upland Ayta Sambal farmers who walk 5–7 km to access markets, significantly constrained income generation and bargaining power. Furthermore, distribution of synthetic inputs under generalized agricultural programs contradicted organic production objectives. The study concludes that indigenous organic farming systems remain structurally undervalued due to weak market integration and fragmented institutional support. Policy reforms must prioritize infrastructure development, organic-specific extension services, participatory guarantee systems integration, and community-based aggregation mechanisms to enhance economic viability while preserving indigenous agricultural knowledge systems.