Resilience and Coping Mechanisms of Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Retailers in Calauan, Laguna

Date

6-2022

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Melodee Marciana E. De Castro

Committee Member

Maria Noriza Q. Herrera

Abstract

In general, the objective of this study is to investigate the coping mechanisms and resilience during crisis of fruit and vegetable retailers in Calauan, Laguna. The research fulfilled the following objectives: (1) present their socio-demographic and business profile; (2) identify the problems and challenges they faced throughout the pandemic; (3) evaluate their coping mechanisms in the time of crisis; (4) assess their resilience in time of crisis; and (5) provide recommendations related to the findings of the study. To achieve this, the study used a mixed method of quantitative and qualitative research design.

Most of the respondents are older and married female citizens, with the most frequent highest educational attainment was elementary level and high school level. On the other hand, more fruits and vegetable retailing businesses in the wet market have been doing their business for a longer period. Majority of respondents have family operated businesses. It was also observed that, in terms of average daily profits, the fresh fruits and vegetable retailers inside the wet market have higher profit margins. Majority do not hire any helpers. It was also identified that a great number of the respondents claimed to operate legally. A greater part fresh fruit and vegetable retailers in the wet market focus on selling vegetables more than fruits. In regards to where they source their products, respondents typically mentioned Tanauan, Batangas and San Pablo, Laguna.

It was determined that not every respondent who retails inside the wet market received government support in the form of financial aid. Some respondents also showed distrust with the government, claiming unfair and corrupt practices. In the respondents' perceptions, the government was able to support them in varying degrees. On the other hand, less than half of the respondents adopted technology. For the respondents who adopted technology, they perceived it to a have a great contribution in helping them and their business in facing the problems brought by the pandemic. Despite their reasons for not using technology, a great number of the respondents who did not use technology have expressed their interest in using it for their business.

The most pressing problem that they faced because of the COVID-19 pandemic were related to financial difficulties. The respondents noted experiencing lesser sales because of minimal customer traffic and weaker customer demand. It was revealed that most of the respondents employ problem-focused coping mechanisms more than emotions-focused ones. Although, emotion-focused coping mechanisms were still employed. Additionally, the specific coping mechanisms used were discounting or selling their goods at lower prices, lowering of expenditures, and loaning.

For resilience, using the Brief Resilience Scale (Smith et al., 2008), it was determined that most showed a normal level of resilience. The respondents showed facets of hardiness and purposiveness, coupled with community solidarity, which helped them and their resilience. In conducting a cross-tabulation between factors related to socio-demographic, business information, and government support and technology adoption with resilience, nothing stood out since in all factors, majority of the percentages fall under Normal level of resilience. Meanwhile, using Pearson correlation it was identified that emotion-focused coping mechanisms has a relationship with resilience. Through avoidance and allowing some time to pass, retailers could limit their association with the problem and help them process the situation, enabling them to become more functional after. Although, the researcher argues that despite the specific coping mechanisms of the fresh fruits and vegetable retailers being on the domain of being problem-focused approaches, in viewing from Manfield & Newey's (2018) perspective on resilience, their approaches actually fall under ad hoc problem solving approaches.

For agribusiness and entrepreneurship schools, after identifying the importance of coping mechanisms and resilience in this study, it is recommended that they put more highlight in it. For the government and the Calauan LGU, it is recommended that they conduct related skills and information extension services to agri-retailers. For other agribusiness owners and entrepreneurs, it is suggested that they do not discount emotion-focused coping mechanism and that they adapt more heuristic resilience responses instead of passive ad hoc responses during adversity. For future studies, suggestions include using a larger sample size, investigation of other resilience factors, and also the undertaking of similar studies related to the coping mechanisms and resilience of other agribusiness or industries.

Language

English

LC Subject

Fruit trade, Vegetable trade, Retail trade

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993 2022 M17 J67

Notes

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Document Type

Thesis

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