Exploring the impact of land grabbing on the changes in the livelihood and patterns of living of the local farmers in Abilay Norte, Oton, Iloilo

Abstract

Over many decades, land-grabbing activities have escalated in different parts of the world, including the Philippines, largely affecting the livelihood and the patterns of living of the farmers who were often the victims. Previous studies have demonstrated the negative consequences of land grabbing on the lives of the farmers, mostly in African regions, and framed it as a highly apparent and coercive phenomenon, focusing on the experiences of the farmers during their struggle. The studies did not focus on the plights of the fanners after they sold their lands, emphasizing the changes in the livelihood and patterns of living that occurred. The study employed qualitative descriptive design in investigating the experiences of the participants to describe the experiences of the participants. The data were primarily gathered through key informant interviews of the participants, which were then analyzed thematically to gain a deeper understanding of (1) their reasons for selling the land; (2) the changes they experienced; and (3) the coping strategies they employed. The findings of this study largely attributed land grabbing as a major force in influencing changes in the livelihood and patterns of living among the farmers in Abilay Norte, Oton, Iloilo. It demonstrates that the large-scale acquisition of land has significantly transformed the different aspects of the participants’ lives. Hence, this study recommends a more extensive and deeper exploration of the implications of land grabbing in the local arena, directing it beyond the current focus to involving socio-cultural and socio-political factors as well as the other victims of land grabbing such as the fisherfolks and the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in the Philippines.