A Case Research on the Effect of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Farming Performance of Selected Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries in Calauan, Laguna

Date

7-2021

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Atty. Cherry Lou R. Nuñez

Committee Member

Atty. Cherry Lou R. Nuñez, Jeanette Angeline B. Madamba, Melodee Marciana E. De Castro

Abstract

The study aimed to discuss how the pandemic affected the farm performance of the selected ARB members of PARC before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the study sought to (1) present the demographic and farm characteristics of the selected agrarian farmers in Calauan, Laguna, (2) assess the situation of the selected agrarian farmers before and during the pandemic, (3) analyze and discuss the factors affecting the farming performance of the farmers before and during the pandemic, (4) identify the problems that affect the ARBs during the pandemic, and (5) formulate recommendations to address the problems and issues of the selected ARBs.

To achieve this, 16 agrarian farmers from Calauan, Laguna were randomly selected and interviewed to be the subject of the study. Qualitative and quantitative analysis were used to analyze the data gathered from the farmers. Descriptive statistics was used to present the profile of the farmers to gain background on how these affected their farm performance. Content analysis was used to determine recurring patterns of the farmers’ answers during the interview regarding the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on their farm operations. Labor productivity index of the farmers were determined to identify how productive the farmers before and during the pandemic. t-Test analysis was used to determine the significant differences of farmers’ production, productivity, sales, and profit before and during the pandemic.

Statistical results showed that only the land size and the farming experience of farmers showed significant relationship on their farming performance before and during the pandemic. It was seen that farmers with greater land size and higher farming experience yield greater production and profit before and during the pandemic. Comparing the production, productivity, sales, and profit of the farmers before and during the pandemic, they showed significant changes during the pandemic. T-test results showed that there were significant decreases in the farmers’ production, labor productivity, sales, and profit during the pandemic. However, during the interview, farmers claimed that the COVID-19 pandemic did not affect their crop production since access to inputs, and credit were still available during the pandemic provided by the cooperative which contradicts other studies wherein implementation of quarantine protocols hampered the availability of inputs and credit services to farmers resulting in lower crop production.

Results also showed that there was a decrease in laborers due to the health protocols implemented by the government and developed fear of the transmission of the virus which decreased the labor productivity of the farmers.

On the other hand, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic to the farmers was evident on the marketing aspect. All farmers claimed that they experienced decrease in buyers during the pandemic. It was observed that farmers heavily rely on the traders, commissioning agents, and direct buyers that go to their location. The cooperative has no control over the farmers’ marketing function; thus, farmers rely solely on their marketing connections and skills to sell their produce. Travel restrictions and presence of checkpoints, temporary shutdown of local markets, stay-at-home protocols in different areas were the reasons why there were limited buyers present during the pandemic. Farmers had no choice but to sell their produce to lower selling price (even lower than their production cost) to prevent surplus or wastage of crops. Hence, leading to lower farm sales and profit which was unfavorable to the condition of the farmers in the rural areas.

Given the problems presented in the study, recommendations were formulated to farmers, PARC, and government agencies supporting ARBs. Farmers are encouraged to engage in e-commerce which can help them increase their sales and profit and knowing that the role of digital technology is becoming more important during the pandemic. Also, farmers are recommended to lean more on agribusiness to build a strong connection with the market and reach wide varieties of market and not only limited to traders, middlemen and contractors to help them achieve farm sustainability. As for the cooperative, engaging in marketing function and act as a market intermediary to their members to ensure availability of buyers such as holding community markets for their farmers to help them not only increase productivity, but also improve their profitability. As for the government agencies, they are encouraged to hold online webinars and coordinate with the cooperative, reaching individual agrarian farmers, to disseminate market information to the farmers. Also, collaborating with other government agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry to help promote the products of the farmers directly to consumers.

Language

English

LC Subject

Land Reform

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993 2021 M17 P47

Document Type

Thesis

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