Comparative Analysis of Saving Behavior of Organic Fruits and Vegtable Farming Households in Los Baños, Laguna Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2019-2022
Date
6-2023
Degree
Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics
College
College of Economics and Management (CEM)
Adviser/Committee Chair
Jaymee A. Cabangbang
Committee Member
Julieta A. Delos Reyes, Agham C. Cuevas
Abstract
The study was conducted to analyze the savings behavior of organic fruit and vegetable farmer households in Los Baños, Laguna before and during the pandemic. Specifically, it aimed to: determine the ability to save of organic fruits and vegetable farmers before and during the pandemic; determine the willingness to save of organic fruits and vegetable farmers before and during the pandemic; determine the opportunities to save they have before and during the pandemic; compare the factors that affects their ability and willingness to save before and during the pandemic; determine what are the problems they encountered during the pandemic; and provide recommendations/ possible solutions to address issues related to the savings behavior or organic farming households.
Both primary and secondary data were used in the study. A list containing 45 names of organic farmers was obtained and due to the small sample size, complete enumeration was appropriate, however, only 31 organic farmers were interviewed through a pre-tested questionnaire. Descriptive analysis such as frequencies, percentages, and averages were used to present the socio-economic characteristics, reasons for saving and forms of savings of organic farmers. Costs and returns analysis, average propensity to save, paired t-test and multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the ability to save of the organic farmers. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the willingness to save of the organic farmers.
Results of costs and returns analysis and average propensity to save shows that the ability to save of organic farmers decreased during the pandemic. Paired t-test results shows that there is a significant difference between the ability to save before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiple regression results showed that the change in income was the only significant factor affecting the ability to save. A one-unit change in the change in income before and during the pandemic, the change in savings before and during the pandemic is expected to increase by Php0.23. Results of the binary logistic regression on willingness to save showed that the household size and farm size were significant. The household size positively affected the willingness to save while the farm size had negative effects. Problems of the organic farmers during the pandemic include low income, problems in marketing and transportation, loss of source of income difficulty to budget and stop saving for a year.
Based on the results and problems encountered, it was recommended to strengthen local networks and partnerships, establish support networks, raise awareness and consumer education, enhance transportation infrastructure, develop local markets and partnership, promote financial literacy, and advocate for policy support. For future studies, it was also recommended to add other factors not considered in the study that may explain the savings behavior of the organic farmers before and during the pandemic and to analyze the shifts in demand, changes in consumer preferences and effectiveness of marketing strategies of the organic farmers.
Language
English
LC Subject
Vegetables—Philippines, Fruits -- Philippines, Saving and investment, COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020—-Influence
Location
UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)
Call Number
LG 993.5 2023 A14 L66
Recommended Citation
Lonto, Abigail G., "Comparative Analysis of Saving Behavior of Organic Fruits and Vegtable Farming Households in Los Baños, Laguna Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2019-2022" (2023). Undergraduate Theses. 11691.
https://www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph/etd-undergrad/11691
Document Type
Thesis
Notes
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