Continuity of Rice Family Farming in Calauan, Laguna, Philippines

Date

6-2023

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Eliza C. Aquino

Committee Member

Jennica Amielle M. Mora, Glenn N. Baticados, Mar B. Cruz

Restrictions

Restricted: Not available to the general public and for consultation with the author/thesis adviser. Access is available only to those bound by the confidentiality agreement.

Abstract

This special problem focuses on the research problem of the declining number of rice farmers and the challenges faced by the agricultural sector in the Philippines, particularly in Calauan, Laguna. the average age of rice farmers is increasing, indication a potential shortage of farmers in the future. Additionally, the availability of agricultural land is decreasing due to industrialization, which poses a threat to farm succession planning. The study also addresses the need for Calauan, Laguna to achieve self-reliance in rice production during major crises.

The objectives of the study are to identify the factors influencing farm succession and continuity of rice farming in Calauan, analyze the correlation between these factors and the choice of succession route, and provide recommendations to motivate youth engagement in rice farming.

The scope of the study focuses on Calauan, Laguna, which is one of the largest rice production areas in the province. The research design utilizes a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. Qualitative research methods, including phenomenological interviews, provide in-depth insights into the subjective experiences and perspectives of rice farmers. Quantitative research methods, such as surveys, allow for systematic data collection analysis of the factors influencing generational succession.

Data collection involved face-to-face interviews and surveys conducted in selected barangays of Calauan, Laguna. The respondents included farm owners, tenants, and their children or successors. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were employed to ensure a diverse range of participants.

The data analysis consisted of descriptive analysis for qualitative data and statistical analysis, including Pearson correlation and binary regression, for quantitative data. The findings from the analysis will contribute to a deeper understanding of the challenges surrounding farm succession in rice farming.

The study investigated the factors influencing farm succession decisions in rice farming and provided insights into the perspectives of both parents (rice farmers) and their children (potential successors). Contrasting preferences were observed among potential successors, depending on whether they were owners' children or tenants' children. Owners' children expressed a strong desire to preserve family heritage and continue the farming tradition, while tenants' children emphasized the importance of ensuring an adequate rice supply for the region. These differences in preferences may be influenced by varying levels of privilege and the specific challenges associated with rice farming in the Laguna region.

The study highlighted important factors that play a significant role in decision- making. Potential successors expressed concerns about the long-term profitability of rice farming and uncertainties about the future prospects of both rice farming and their own careers. However, the majority of tenants' children still demonstrated willingness to take over the farm, motivated by the desire to contribute to regional food security. Some potential successors, regardless of being owners' or tenants' children, preferred alternative careers for stability. These findings contradict previous foreign studies that suggested access to resources and technological advancements as influential factors. Another study emphasized the impact of changing social and cultural norms on youth engagement in farming and generational succession decisions.

The motivations behind the preferences of owners' children and tenants' children reflect their unique circumstances and challenges. Owners' children often come from more privileged backgrounds, giving them flexibility in career choices and considering farming as an optional responsibility. In contrast, tenants' children deeply respect their parents' hard work and prioritize farm management alongside exploring other career opportunities for their families' future security.

In terms of farm succession planning, intra-family transfer is the preferred route for rice farmers. They view agriculture as vital for food security, meeting community needs, and providing for their families. Rice farmers emphasize the importance of continuing agricultural practices for future generations and sustaining their communities. Despite challenges such as unpredictable weather conditions and market uncertainties, farmers maintain a deep commitment to farming as a way of life. They encourage people of all ages to be involved in agriculture, recognizing the value of intragenerational knowledge transfer.

The study sheds light on the complexities of farm succession decisions and provides insights into the considerations and perspectives of rice farmers and their children. Understanding these factors is essential for developing effective strategies for successful farm succession planning and ensuring the continuity of farming practices across generations. Rice farmers consider various factors when determining the readiness and ability of potential successors to take over the farm. These factors include the age of potential successors, access to resources, farm profitability, the desire to preserve family heritage, and the motivation and personal goals of the potential successor. Additionally, work-life balance, income security, social support, and the desire to preserve family heritage emerge as top factors considered by rice farmers' children in their willingness to take over the rice farm.

The study reveals some contrasting results compared to previous studies. Local and foreign studies have suggested that factors such as educational level, marital status, family farm exposure, farm profitability, and farm operation are key determinants of farm succession. However, in this study conducted in the Philippines, particularly in the Laguna region facing challenges and a decrease in farmland, factors like community support and financial stability are crucial considerations for rice farmers when deciding whether to pass their land to their children. The cultural and environmental factors specific to the study area contribute to these differences in results.

The findings of the Pearson correlation analysis and regression analysis consistently highlight the significance of the desire to provide sufficient rice supply and the desire to preserve family heritage as influential factors in choosing intra-family transfer as the preferred succession route among rice farmers in Calauan, Laguna. These findings deviate from the results of previous foreign studies, indicating the importance of considering the specific context and cultural dynamics of the region.

The prioritization of ensuring an adequate rice supply indicates the emphasis placed by rice farmers in Calauan, Laguna on food security and meeting local demand. This finding underscores the unique contextual factors that shape the decision-making process in this region and highlights the need to consider local agricultural dynamics and community needs when studying generational succession in agriculture.

Furthermore, the desire to preserve family heritage aligns with the recognition that maintaining family legacy and cultural heritage are significant motivators for continuing the family farming tradition. This emphasizes the deep value placed on family heritage by successors in Calauan, Laguna and reinforces their inclination towards intra- family transfer. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the specific context and cultural dynamics of a region when examining generational succession, as the considerations and priorities of rice farmers in Calauan, Laguna differ from those in other regions. these contrasting results with previous foreign studies underscore the significance of contextual factors and cultural dynamics in influencing decision-making in agricultural succession. The unique considerations and priorities of rice farmers in Calauan, Laguna, particularly in relation to rice supply and family heritage, distinguish them from farmers in other regions. This highlights the diverse range of factors that shape decision-making in the context of agricultural succession.

Overall, the study's findings shows that while there may not be a strong and meaningful relationship between variables such as the desire to preserve heritage or family business and the desire to provide sufficient rice supply, these factors still play a significant role in the decision-making process of selecting a successor and determining the succession route. The observed relationship between these variables and succession route may be due to chance rather than a genuine association, possibly because rice farmers already perceive the challenges of rice farming as common and inherent to their profession.

The study also reveals that rice farmers in Calauan, Laguna do not engage in proper succession planning, and there are several reasons for this. Firstly, there may be a lack of awareness among farmers regarding the importance and benefits of succession planning. They may not fully understand the long-term implications of not having a clear plan for transferring their farming operations to the next generation. Traditional cultural norms and practices may also discourage discussions and planning related to succession, with the belief that the successor will naturally take over without formal planning.

Limited access to resources, such as financial services and agricultural extension programs, can hinder rice farmers' ability to engage in succession planning. Insufficient access to information and guidance on the process further contributes to the lack of proper planning. Additionally, the lack of interest or willingness among potential successors to continue farming can hinder the initiation of succession planning. Uncertainty about future careers, particularly among potential successors to continue farming can hinder the initiation of succession planning. Uncertainty about future careers, particularly among students, may lead to a temporary consideration of taking over the farm until more clarity is gained. Financial concerns and the focus on short-term economic needs and immediate profits in the face of agricultural uncertainties and risks may also divert attention away from succession planning.

Despite the absence of appropriate succession planning, rice farmers in Calauan, Laguna are more incline towards intra-family transfers as a means of succession, especially for tenants. This presence can be attributed to the strong attachment and emotional connection that farmers have to their land and farming traditions. Passing down the farm to the next generation is deeply ingrained in their cultural values, emphasizing the preservation of family heritage and the continuation of the family business.

Practical considerations, such as limited resources and knowledge about alternative succession options, contribute to the preference for intra-family transfer. Limited access to financial resources, legal support, and information on other succession routes may lead farmers to default to the familiar and straightforward option of transferring the farm within the family. This option requires less external assistance and helps maintain continuity in farming operations. The transient nature of tenant farming, with limited continuation of the family business.

Practical considerations, such as limited resources and knowledge about alternative succession options, contribute to the preference for intra-family transfer. Limited access to financial resources, legal support, and information on other succession routes may lead farmers to default to the familiar and straightforward option of transferring the farm within the family. This option requires less external assistance and helps maintain continuity in farming operations. The transient nature of tenant farming, with limited control and long-term security over the land, also shifts focus towards immediate livelihood sustainability rather than long-term succession planning. The uncertainties of tenancy arrangements and potential changes by landowners further discourage significant investment in succession planning.

It is important to note that while there are potential successors willing to continue the family farming tradition, a significant number of rice farmers still choose non-family transfers as their preferred succession route. These options, such as selling the land, leasing it to others, or engaging in share farming, indicate challenges and limitations in passing down the farming business to the next generation. Thus, the ability of Calauan, Laguna to contribute to the province's self-reliance in rice production during major crises remains uncertain, even with potential successors.

Language

English

LC Subject

Rice farming--Philippines, Rice farmers

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993 2023 M17 B36

Document Type

Thesis

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