Knowledge, Awareness, and Perception on Rabbit Manure-Enriched Vermicast (RMEV) Among Garden/Ornamental Plant Businesses in Bay, Laguna

Date

6-2022

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Gemma U. Reyes

Committee Member

Maria Noriza Q. Herrera

Abstract

The Philippines' rabbit industry is growing since rabbit meat serves as an alternative protein source with its low production input, high prolificacy, and nutritious meat. With this, some Filipinos have started raising rabbits for business, and many face the issue of the perception of customers towards rabbits as cute pets and not food. According to a rabbit meat contract in Pila, Laguna, Mrs. Mariafe Carillo, she, together with at least 20 other rabbit farmers in Pila, was incapable of maximizing profit by selling rabbit meat. Mrs. Carillo mentioned another way of earning from the business, which is from rabbit manure-enriched vermicast fertilizers, or RMEV. Rabbit manure-enriched vermicast fertilizers are vermicomposting products that use rabbit manure as the raw material or the organic waste residue that the worms consume, leading to worm castings rich in nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus.

Currently, Mrs. Mariafe Carillo sells their RMEV fertilizers for P500/50kg sack, or P10/kg. The problem that Mrs. Mariafe Carillo and the other rabbit farmers in Pila who produce RMEV fertilizers is that the product is quite new to the fertilizer scene, Therefore, this study was conducted to generally analyze the knowledge, awareness, and perceptions of garden/ornamental plant businesses situated in Bay, Laguna. The specific objectives of the study include the following: (a) describe the socio-demographic profiles of the ornamental plant sellers; (b) discuss the perceived advantages and disadvantages of using rabbit manure-enriched vermicast; (c) assess the levels of knowledge & awareness and perceptions of the market towards rabbit manure-enriched vermicast; (d) examine the market challenges and opportunities for rabbit manure-enriched vermicast; and (e) recommend strategies that would address market preferences and market knowledge, awareness, and perception gaps on rabbit manure-enriched vermicast (RMEV).

Twenty-one (21) garden/ornamental plant business owners and/or managers were interviewed to meet the objectives of this study. The interview were guided by a questionnaire prepared beforehand. The collated data was grouped, tabulated, and analyzed quantitatively.

The respondents of the study were composed of mostly adults, as the average of the respondents interviewed was 46 years old. The majority (76%) of the garden/ornamental plant businesses interviewed were owned/managed by women, and all respondents had schooling, Only 9 of the respondents were affiliated with an organization related to their business (Samahan ng mga Maghahalaman ng Bay and EDRB Multipurpose Cooperative). Most of the respondents (95%) use fertilizers for their business, but they prefer synthetic fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate, complete, and urea. In purchasing fertilizers, the respondents primarily prefer synthetic fertilizers, which means that they rank the resource material of the fertilizer to be first among the four common attributes they have provided. The second attribute is price, the third is the nutrient content, and the fourth and least important attribute for them is the brand.

The general level knowledge and awareness of the respondents toward rabbit manure-enriched fertilizers is low. Eleven (11) respondents are not aware of the product at all, and only ten (10) respondents have heard of the product. Out of the ten, only two (2) respondents are fully aware of the product and are knowledgeable about it, as they were the only ones who have actually purchased from a producer and have tried it on their products beforehand. The respondents gain news or updates on new fertilizers, the RMEV fertilizer included, through other garden/ornamental plant businesses, customers, sales agents, and families.

The general perception of the respondents towards the RMEV fertilizer varies. The respondents see the product as advantageous because it is an organic fertilizer that has high nutrient content, helps lessen harm to plants, and could be overall good for their plants. Other positive perceptions of the respondents are as follows: 95% of the respondents think the RMEV fertilizers could improve plant health and attractiveness. 67% think that the product could help in reducing the risk of losing plant products. 81% think that RMEV could help them increase their income.

However, the majority of the respondents still prefer synthetic fertilizers, even though it is increasing in price since they mainly perceive the RMEV fertilizer to be costly. Some other negative perceptions include being possibly harmful to plants, slower and less effective than synthetic fertilizers, limited sources of the product itself, and could contain a bad odor.

But despite these negative perceptions, 86% of the respondents consider using RMEV fertilizers as fertilizer for their plants or to resell to customers in the future. The respondents prefer 1kg pack and 50kgs sacks for the RMEV fertilizer packaging. The majority of the respondents prefer to purchase the product directly from the producer to reduce costs, but some are willing to buy from trusted retailers such as Dulay's Garden. 95% of the respondents would recommend the RMEV fertilizer to friends, other garden/ornamental plant businesses, and their customers.

The low levels of awareness and knowledge, and the negative perceptions towards the product led to the recommendation of the researcher to focus on massive dissemination of information regarding the product and the businesses/farms that offer them. One way is through seminars which would include demonstrations, showcasing of different effects of the fertilizer, and, if possible, a freebie of 1kg RMEV fertilizer per garden/ornamental plant business attendee so that they could try it out themselves. Another recommended way of spreading awareness is by giving out flyers since many owners and managers of garden/ornamental plant producers are traditional. The researcher also recommended the use of social media platforms, specifically Facebook. By joining plantito/plantita or garden-related groups and sharing the RMEV fertilizer and their business, awareness through end consumers might be achieved.

The researcher recommends the rabbit farmers seek help from LGUs and cooperatives in their objective to disseminate information and to help them in establishing a delivery system to meet the preference of the respondents of buying directly from producers in Pila.

As for the respondents themselves, the researcher recommends that they try out the RMEV fertilizer, which is cheaper than they perceive and could also meet the nutrient requirements of their plants. The researcher also recommends the garden/ornamental plant businesses utilize word of mouth in spreading awareness of the RMEV fertilizers among the end consumers to tap into a bigger market for the product.

The researcher recommends future studies to be conducted on the willingness to pay of the market or a general market study for the rabbit manure-enriched vermicast fertilizers, including end consumers as respondents.

Language

English

LC Subject

Rabbit meat industry, Market surveys

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993 2022 M17 A46

Notes

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Document Type

Thesis

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