My research will be done in conjunction with CIAT – the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture, based in Hanoi, Vietnam. During my allocated research time I hope to gain an insight into different coconut producers and farming systems in the Philippines. In particular I hope to understand more about what conditions cause farmers to move into, stagnate, thrive and move out of coconut production.
CIAT are working on developing their own project on scaling cacao-coconut intercrop. The work that I undertake over the course of my research project will not only be used for my own academic grading, but it will also go towards the development of a 400 household questionnaire targeting coconut producers which will be carried out by CIAT colleagues.
Working with a team of experienced researchers is something that excites me and I hope to learn lots in the months ahead. Desk research is not what I first imagined myself being involved in but I have developed a newly evoked motivation to learn new skills through this research method and I hope to become more knowledgeable in this area as a result.