The study aimed to identify the cropping systems followed by rice farmers in the Maria Sinukuan Settlement Area, Magalang, Pampanga; find out the factors affecting cropping systems; know the farm activities of the farmers; identify the technical assistance extended; identify the problems met in rice farming and determine the possibility of improving the rice farming activities.

Pertinent data of this study were gathered by means of interview schedule which was personally administered by the researcher.

The statistical tools used to interpret the results of the study were the frequency counts, average, percentages, and ranks.

The rice farmers were found to have different cropping system, that is, rice followed by another crop of rice for those who planted two times a year; rice alone for those who planted two times a year; rice alone for those who planted once a year and rice/cowpea/peanut/mungo/root crops/vegetables for those whose farms had enough moisture.

Several factors like insufficiency of irrigation water, high cost of chemical and fertilizer, low family income, insufficiency of technical assist-ance extended, occurence of natural calamities, the farmers' low educational attainment and lack of technological trainings and farm equipment were those that affected the farmera' cropping systems.

The farm technological levels of the rice farmers in the MSSA could be described as "verylow" considering the antiquated cultural practices the rice farmers adopted mainly due to the lack of adequate irrigation water supply.

Apparently, the major farm activities that demanded most of the time of the rice farmers included land preparation, transplanting and harvesting. These activities absorbed much of the available labor contributed mainly by the family, bayanihan and hired labor.

To supplement the limited off-farm activities of the families of the rice farmers in the MSSA that contributed to their low family income, the great majority planned to establish income-generating projects such as swine, poultry, goat, dairy and cattle, and vegetable growing.

Thesis (Master of Science - Agricultural Education)

Includes appendices and bibliographical references