The economics of rice establishment methods in rainfed lowland areas in Pangasinan Philippines

Date

10-1996

Abstract

The main objectives of the study were to understand why farmers adopt dry-seeding technique under rainfed lowland condition and to examine the relative efficiency of the two crop establishment practices (transplanting and dry seeding). An attempt was also made to determine the factors that influence farmers' technical efficiency under each crop establishment practice.

The study used primary data collected in 1993 and 1994 from a group of rainfed lowland rice farmers in Urbiztondo municipality, Pangasinan, Philippines, by the Social Sciences Division of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

A tobit regression model was used to estimate the probability and intensity of adopting dry-seeding technique increased with an increase in land size and income level. The other factor that influenced farmers to adopt dry-seeding technique was absence of irrigation facility. Labor land ratio, land ownership, and weed problems contributed negatively to the adoption of dry seeding.

The stochastic frontier production function was used to estimate the elasticities and technical efficiencies associated with production of rice. The function was estimated separately for transplanted and dry-seeded fields based on the results of Chow test which showed that these two crop establishment techniques represented different technologies. Further analysis showed that the frontier output for dry-seeded rice was lower than for transplanted rice.

The mean level of technical efficiency associated with transplanted rice was 0.75, indicating that there was about 25 percent unexploited production potential. The mean level of technical efficiency associated with dry-seeded rice was 0.71, lower by 0.04 compared with transplanted rice. The results also indicated that interfarm variation of technical efficiency was wider for dry-seeded rice fields that for transplanted ricefields.

The level of education of adult members of households had a positive impact on technical efficiency in both crop establishment methods. Late planting resulted in the loss of technical efficiency in dry-seeded rice. Family size contributed positively to technical efficiency of transplanted rice, but it had a neutral effect on the efficiency level of dry-seeded rice. The implication is that improved education level of the rural people, availability of credit, and a developed rental market for big tractors will help farmers to increase technical efficiency.

If the production frontier of dry seeded rice is lower than that of transplanted rice, a shift from transplanting to dry seeding in response to rising wage could lower the yield and rice production, unless technological innovations to raise the productivity of dry-seeded rice are made. Research to generate more effective mechanical and chemical technology for weed control will have a favorable contribution to increasing productivity and technical efficiency of dry-seeded rice. Varieties that are more suitable for dry seeding will similarly be desirable.

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Economics

College

Graduate School (GS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Sushil Pandey

Committee Member

Achilles C. Costales, Melinda F. Lumanta, Isabelita M. Pabuayon

Language

English

LC Subject

Rainfed lowland rice

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 996 1996 A14 P38

Notes

Doctor of Philosophy(Agricultural Economics)

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