Production, processing and marketing of agriculture subsystems in the Philippines: A review

Agriculture remains a vital pillar of the Philippine economy, yet its development is hindered by the fragmentation and weak integration of production, processing, and marketing subsystems. This study presents a systematic literature review analyzing scholarly works from Scopus-indexed journals, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Philippine-based repositories to examine the interconnections, challenges, and opportunities within these agricultural subsystems. The review reveals that while mechanization has progressed, persistent productivity gaps remain due to climate change impacts, limited technology adoption, and inadequate support services for smallholder farmers. The processing subsystem emerges as the weakest link, characterized by insufficient infrastructure and substantial post-harvest losses. Meanwhile, the marketing subsystem suffers from lengthy, fragmented supply chains that diminish farmer incomes and bargaining power through multiple intermediaries. The findings indicate that isolated improvements within individual subsystems are insufficient for sustainable agricultural development. Instead, an integrated approach combining technological innovation, post-harvest infrastructure investment, market access enhancement through digital platforms and cooperatives, and inclusive institutional governance is essential. These integrated strategies align with national modernization goals and are critical for ensuring food security, improving farmer livelihoods, and promoting resilient agricultural growth in the Philippines.