The study investigated the extent of adoption with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in corn development projects in the cluster municipalities of Nueva Vizcaya. The respondents of the study are corn farmers who have undergone GAP trainings with 5-years experience in corn farming, at least 0.5 hectares or more area of corn farm and an active participant in GAP corn project inclusive of the GAP certified farmers. The study was conducted for school year 2019-2020.

Mix research method, the quantitative and qualitative was utilized to achieve a more reliable result. A structured questionnaire and interview guide were the main data gathering tools in this study. Triangulation was done by conducting focus group discussions and key informants' interview substantiated by personal observations and ocular visits.

Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, and mean was used in describing the personal attributes of the respondents. Likert-type scale was used to analyze the institutional support and services level of influence, level of awareness and extent of compliance as well as the seriousness of problems encountered. In measuring if there are significant relationships between the variables used in the study, the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (Pr) was explored and in testing whether there is a significant difference between the variables, the ANOVA was used. Margin of error was set at 0.05 level of significance.

For the demographic profile, the average age of the farmers is 52, their educational attainment is mostly high school level and graduate, the average land area is 1.93 hectares, the average number of years in corn farming is 20, majority (86.3%) are members in farmers organization, and has participated in GAP related trainings such as IPM (96.3%) and ICM (74.4%).
Among the demographic characteristics that has significance to the respondents level of awareness in GAP corn are sex, highest educational attainment and trainings which is relevant in farm environment, pre-harvesting and harvesting practices at 5% level of significance, however, it has no significant relationship with GAP corn compliance.

The level of influence of institutional support and services' has slight effect on GAP corn compliance. Although when correlated with level of awareness and extent of compliance, it is significant at 1% level of significance.

The respondents' level of awareness is high and was qualitatively described to have 76-100% awareness of the certification requirements in GAP corn while the extent of their compliance is qualitatively described to have 51-75% compliance with GAP corn certification requirements which suggests that awareness is 25% higher than their compliance. As to the relationship of the respondents' level of awareness to their extent of compliance in GAP corn, GAP awareness is parallel to the respondents' compliance for GAP corn wherein the level of their awareness is significant with the extent of their compliance at 1% level of significance.

For the constraints that hinders the compliance of GAP corn, institutional support on special market is very serious while inadequate production support, post-harvest facilities, extension, research and farmers education, credit, information dissemination and late procurement of seed assistance are serious. For constraints along GAP corn compliance, all the variables such as capital and labor intensive, establishment and procurement of farm structures and other tools, delayed release of soil analysis, voluminous documentation and records, inadequate knowledge and skills on farm planning and budgeting, and lack of understanding and appreciation of GAP purposes are rated as serious. Non-adoption of post-harvest practices is slightly serious.

Thesis (Doctor of Philosophy - Rural Development)

Includes appendices and bibliographical references