Production and Income Assessment of Small-Scale Sweet Potato and Snow Cabbage Farmers and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Lucban, Quezon, 2022

Date

6-2023

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Charis Mae T. Neric

Committee Member

Julieta A. Delos Reyes, Agham C. Cuevas

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the growth of Philippine agriculture since health protocols such as stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions were declared in March 2020 inevitably affecting the availability and affordability of agricultural produce. Food scarcity became a challenge since the limitation hindered the transport of goods worldwide, including the town of Lucban. The burden lies in the hands of the local small-scale vegetable and root crop farmers. It is, therefore, necessary to determine the effect of the pandemic on the production level and income of farmers.

A total of 80 sweet potato farmers from Barangays Igang, Nagsinamo, and Samil and 87 snow cabbage farmers from Ayuti, Kulapi, and Tinamnan were interviewed for this study. The total farm area and the list of farmers were obtained from the OMA. Primary data were gathered through personal interviews using a pre-test questionnaire.

The results of the study showed that most of the farmers continued their production during the pandemic. Both sweet potato and snow cabbage respondent showed a significant decrease in their production during the pandemic. However, the prices of both commodities significantly increased. Moreover, using cost and returns analysis, it was found that both snow cabbage and sweet potato farmers obtained a significant increase in net farm income during the pandemic. A comparison of means using t-test revealed the statistical difference on the items in costs and returns before and during the pandemic. For sweet, it was determined that the expenses on land rent in-kind, unpaid family labor cost had a significant difference compared to the amount before the pandemic. On the other hand, it was determined that land rent in-kind, unpaid labor cost, seed cost, fertilizer, pesticide, and hired and unpaid family labor cost significantly increased during the pandemic. Furthermore, there was one each respondent for sweet potato and snow cabbage farmers who sold their produce online in comparison to a respondent who sold their produce through the traditional market. Using partial budget analysis, it was found that the sweet potato farmer who sold online gained a positive change in net income while the snow cabbage respondent who sold online obtained a negative change in net income.

The most usual challenge faced by sweet potato and snow cabbage farmers during the pandemic was the pest and diseases that affected the value of the produce. It us then recommended the the LGU, as well as the OMA, provide support by facilitating trainings to educate farmers on the modernized farming techniques and market opportunities that best fit the farmers' capability and resources corresponding to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, it is recommended that OMA and SIPAG to establish a central market for the farmers to gather their output and help sell their produce in the town and nearby municipalities.

Language

English

LC Subject

Sweet potato industry, Cabbage industry, Production (Economic theory)

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2023 A14 S255

Notes

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Document Type

Thesis

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