Definition of the mechanization scheme of tobacco-based farms in Ilocos Norte

Date

1989

Abstract

A farm survey was conducted in eight towns of Ilocos Norte from February to April, 1988 to determine the level of farm mechanization in the tobacco-based farms and its effect on production and economic parameters. The study also sought to identify the mechanization scheme based on the existing conditions. Results of the study showed that tobacco-based farms basically followed the tobacco-garlic-rice cropping system wherein tobacco and garlic were pump irrigated (dry season cropping) and rice was rainfed (wet season). The power available per hectare was 1.0 hp/ha, of which 0.50, 0.44, and 0.06 hp/ha were supplied by human, animal and mechanical sources, respectively. The use of machine was further expanded through custom-hiring services provided by private contractors and some farmer-owners and contributed 0.27 hp/ha to the total available power in the farm. Mechanized land preparation reduced the cropping intensity for tobacco which was in turn absorbed by garlic. The crop diversification resulted to a total cropping intensity value of 1.75 for the whole cropping system. Mechanization reduced the total labor inputs in tobacco and rice production by 26% and 36% respectively. The same trend was observed in family and exchange labor, however, the reductions were statistically insignificant. There was a significant increase in hired labor requirement in mechanized farms, thereby increasing agricultural labor employment. Total production in mechanized tobacco farms was significantly higher by 8% than in non-mechanized farms. In mechanized rice farms, production was higher by 5%. Mechanization increased the benefit cost ratio (BCR) by 17% and 7% for tobacco and rice, respectively. Net return to management wherein a farmer could diversify production without necessarily increasing hectarage was a more suitable criterion in justifying mechanized land preparation than net return per hectarage even more when the per hectare returns were reduced by mechanization. The effect of the present level of farm mechanization in tobacco-based farms was not a straight-forwards substitution of capital for labor but rather a machine implementing labor which is socially desirable. The mechanization scheme wherein custom-hired tractors provided the power requirement for primary land preparation and available draft animals supplied the power for secondary tillage, cultivation and transport was justified for tobacco production which showed a 58% acceptance among the respondents. With the factor of mechanization greater in rice than in tobacco, it is expected for rice which has only gained 4% acceptance to increase adoption. These together with power already available from pumps, the relatively high population densities of farm structures and equipment, and the farmers' value judgment mark the trend of farm mechanization in tobacco-based farms.

Document Type

Master Thesis

Language

English

LC Subject

Farm mechanization -- Philippines -- Ilocos Norte, Tobacco

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 995 1989 A2 C33

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