Socio-environmental factors and rural poverty in an upland farming community in Isabel, Leyte, Philippines

Date

5-1989

Abstract

This study was done primarily to explore the relationships between some socio-environmental factors such as bio-physical factors and socioeconomic-cultural factors and the level of living of rural household in a depressed upland community.

Data collection methods or procedures used were: survey, key informant and participant-observation. The specific data gathering tools and techniques utilized were structured interviews, key informant interviews, informal talks and observation, participation and field notes.

The three units of analysis considered were: the individual respondent, the household, and the community. Descriptive statistical tools such as frequency counts, means, rank order, standard deviation, and range were used. To test the relationships between the independent variables and the dependent variable, the Chi-square (X2) test of independence was employed. The study was conducted in Barangay Anislag, Isabel, Leyte with all its 60 upland farmer-households as respondents.

Findings showed that the majority of the respondents were males with an average age of 43 years, married, an average educational attainment of grade five and with five children. They have lived in the barangay for an average of 28 years. Generally, they had low level of living.

Although the farmer-respondents noted that the bio-physical factors such as soil conditions, land topography, rainfall pattern, water availability, temperature, pests and diseases and natural hazards had affected their farm operations and productivity either favorably or unfavorably, none of these variables was significantly related to the level of farm productivity and level of living types of households uniformly or in a similar manner, hence no significant differences were evident in the observations.

On the other hand, among the socioeconomic cultural factors, level of farm technology, prices of basic commodities purchased, degree of literacy/numeracy, technical/vocational skills, and secondary sources of income were found to significantly related to the households' level of living. When this set of variables was tested for relationship with level of farm productivity, only the level of farm technology was found to be significantly related.

The household's level of farm productivity and level of living was found to be highly significant in their association. The relationship was direct and positive which means that the higher the farm productivity level of the household, the higher is its level of living, and vice versa.

Regarding the household's socioeconomic status in the community, by using an imaginary 10-step socioeconomic ladder with 1 denoting the poorest household and 10 to the most well-off, more than two-thirds (71%) of the respondents placed themselves on the first three lowest steps of the ladder. which implies that they considered their households to be the poorest or next to the poorest in the community. The three most frequently mentioned reasons or conditions which contributed to their present impoverished state were "low educational attainment", "it is our fate or God's will, " and "no other occupation engaged in except farming."

Nearly one-half (43%) perceived no change in their life situation at present compared to five years ago. About one-fifth (18%) claimed that their socioeconomic condition had improved now compared to their situation five years ago. Almost one-fourth (23%) foresaw their life situation to be good five years from now. However, about one-third of the group (39%) anticipated no differences at all in their life situation. They had been poor and they would still be poor five years hence. A substantial proportion (30%) did not comment. To them, probably life five years from now is a scene that is hazy, undefined and unclear. So its "que sera sera."

Generally, the upland farmers had favorable attitude towards farming and the environment. They also had a positive perception on poverty.

The respondents perceived the following as the two most serious problems affecting- the household: low family income and low food supply; the barangay: water inadequacy and unfinished barangay road; the country: high prices of prime commodities and unstable peace and other situation.

Four major coping mechanisms or strategies to ensure the households' continued survival were: reliance on multiple sources of income, scarcity adjustment and "doing without" strategy; crop diversification, and reliance on kinship ties and village social practices.

The respondents' life's aspiration for themselves were: good health and enough food supply; for their children: completion of their studies and good health; for the family: adequate food and good health; for the community: continued peace and order and water availability, and for the country; that peace and order will prevail and that prices of basic commodities will go down.

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Master of Science in Community Development

Adviser/Committee Chair

Pura T. Depositario

Committee Member

Gelia T. Castillo, Blanda R. Sumayao, Willie C. Depositario

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 996 1989 C59 D33

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS