Resilience of Small-Scale Farming Households in the Face of Rapid Urbanization

Rapid urbanization in Urdaneta City continues to reduce farmland, increase production costs, and intensify pressure on small-scale farmers’ livelihoods, forcing them to navigate growing economic and environmental challenges that threaten the long-term sustainability and stability of their primary source of income. This study examined the resilience of these farmers within the context of ongoing urban development. Using a quantitative research design, data were collected through structured surveys and analyzed using statistical methods, guided by Holling’s Resilience Theory, which views resilience as a dynamic process of coping and adjustment. The findings indicate that farmers are generally moderately resilient, showing strengths in accessing available resources, relying on community support systems, and demonstrating openness to improving farming practices through training and innovation. Despite these strengths, significant limitations persist in their capacity to recover from disruptions and transition toward alternative or more sustainable livelihoods. Their continued reliance on rice monocropping, micro-scale landholdings, and traditional farming practices limits productivity and heightens vulnerability to climate variability, market instability, and rising input costs. In addition, constraints such as limited access to modern technologies, weak infrastructure, and increasing competition for resources further challenge long-term sustainability. The study concludes that although farmers exhibit adaptive potential, their resilience remains constrained by financial vulnerability and limited transformative capacity. Strengthening institutional support through financial assistance, agricultural insurance, infrastructure development, and capacity-building programs, alongside promoting diversified and innovation-driven livelihoods, is essential to enhance long-term resilience and sustainable rural development.