Analyzing Prosumerism as a Coping Mechanism to Ensure Food Security during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, 2022

Date

6-2023

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Julieta A. Delos Reyes

Committee Member

Agham C. Cuevas

Abstract

The study aimed to analyze prosomerism as a coping mechanism to ensure food security during the COVID-19 pandemic in Balibago, Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Specifically, it: characterized the prosumers and consumers in the study area and the challenges they faced during COVID-19 pandemic; determined the proportion of fruits, vegetables and meat that were grown and bought by the prosumers and the consumers; analyzed the relationship between prosumerism; and provided policy recommendations based on the findings. Descriptive analysis, t-test of means, Fisher's Exact Test of independence, and binary logistic regression analysis were performed. Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) was used to classify the respondents into the different levels of food insecurity. The study was conducted in Sta. Rosa, Laguna and 96 respondents were interviewed using pre-tested questionnaires. The sampled respondents were classified into prosumer or consumer and were chosen randomly.

Results revealed that prosumer were mostly male (60%) while consumers were mostly female; prosumers tend to be older both groups have an average household size between 4 to 6, and income between Php 8,333 to Php 20,333; majority own the house and lot where they reside and are local residents of Sta. Rosa, Laguna. There were prosumer-respondents who experienced financial difficulties during the pandemic and had someone in their household lose a job; more prosumer-respondents who had trouble purchasing food during the COVID-19 pandemic; and almost all of them (98%) received assistance during the; only 8 (17%) of them thought that the assistance given during the pandemic was enough. Generally, there was a worsening of the food insecurity levels of both the prosumers and the consumers during the pandemic, but the consumers have been hit harder because they were reliant on the markets for their food supplies. Before the pandemic, more consumers were food secure but during the pandemic, the prosumerism are knowledge, space availability, and employment status. Prosumers have higher knowledge score than consumers. Space availability promotes adoption of prosumerism while employment discourages it due to lack of time. Also, lack of technical knowledge, lack of capital, limited land, lack of possible market (for excess production), affordability of all food needs, and not fond of eating vegetables and fruits were among the hindrances for the adoption of prosumerism.

The following were recommended: incentive prosumerism; actively promote and facilitate prosumerism through issuance of local ordinances; encourgae the work from home arrangement when the nature of wprk allows it; setting up of community prosumers talipapa; and formation of prosumers' association or group.

Language

English

LC Subject

Food security, COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020—-Economic aspects

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2023 A14 S57

Notes

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Document Type

Thesis

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