An Analysis of Production Marketing of Tilapia in the City of San Pedro, Laguna

Date

5-2019

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Hanna D. Miranda-Quibot

Committee Member

Nohreen Ethel P. Manipol, Nanette A. Aquino, Jeanette Angeline B. Madamba, Normito R. Zapata, Jr.

Abstract

San Pedro City is the fourth largest city in Laguna in terms of population and considered as one of the cities with the highest population density in the province. Although the city has a very limited agricultural land area, the city of San Pedro is known as the sampaguita capital in the Philippines. With a very small area allotted for agriculture, the fishery sector has been one of the main agriculture prospects of the city since it is also part of the coastal areas of Laguna de Bay. One of the main aquatic species grown from the economic lake zone of the lake is the tilapia.

The study was conducted to analyze the tilapia fish cage production and marketing in the city of San Pedro, Laguna. Moreover, the study was performed because the City Agriculture Office sought for help in collating topical data to analyze the situation of the tilapia industry in the city. Generally, the study aimed to determine the status, problems, and prospects of the industry and how to help the fisherfolk in improving the city’s tilapia production in their local market by giving awareness and addressing the problems of the tilapia operations. Specifically, the study was designed to a) present the profile of the tilapia key players in the city; b) describe the existing production and marketing practices of tilapia producers; c) identify the problems, issues, strengths, and weaknesses of the tilapia production and marketing; d) determine the prospects and opportunities for the key players of tilapia production and marketing; e) and recommend possible solutions to the identified problems encountered in the production and marketing of tilapia.

A descriptive research technique which collected necessary information for the analysis of the tilapia operations was used. Frequency analysis, percent analysis, different forces of model, and barriers to entry and exit were the tools used to evaluate the industry. Self- administered surveys and key informant interviews (KII) were also conducted. Given the limited time frame and available relevant data from the City Agriculture Office, the technique of snowball or referral method was hugely maximized in conducting the study. The researcher had also done field observations and personally visited the involved offices to fully grasp the situation of the subsector through its key players. All data gathered were integrated to formulate analysis of the problems, status, and prospects of the industry.

The researcher was able to interview 35 respondents composed of 30 tilapia producers and five tilapia traders and retailers. Most data were acquired from the interviews and field observation conducted to different key players of the tilapia industry in the city. This served as the primary data of the researcher. For the related literature that would aid the researcher to have knowledge about the industry, the secondary or other data and information were collected from various online sources, undergraduate thesis, published and unpublished articles, news, books, and records to study.

The respondents were composed of male tilapia producers, who are married, and are at least 40 years old. Most of the respondents have acquired knowledge and skills about tilapia production from their family lineage and from attending a number of seminars and workshops spearheaded by the City Agriculture Office. The fish farms being operated by most respondents were fish cages and fish traps.

The harvested tilapia were traded and marketed in different areas within or nearby the city proper. Viajeros happened to do agreements along the coastal lake areas before or after the tilapia producers had harvested their respective catch for the period. The tilapia were sold based on its classification with corresponding farm gate prices. The tilapia producers manually did the sorting and classification of the tilapia being produced. Class A tilapia size of two to three pieces per kilogram sold at PhP50 to PhP70, Class B with four to five pieces per kilogram sold at PhP40 to PhP50, and Class C with six to seven pieces per kilogram sold at PhP30 to PhP35. The inputs, materials, and equipment used in the production of the tilapia were accounted and computed to arise with cost and return analysis for the production of different class sizes of tilapia as basis of possible types of scenarios that would determine the profit margin of tilapia producers from their tilapia start-up investment.

Although the industry was at its mature stage, there were still problems which remained unsolved and had accumulated, creating chain effects on the tilapia industry. Some of the identified problems were the unpredictable availability of the tilapia fingerlings, expensive capital and maintenance expenses, lack of coordination among key players, and unavoidable climatic effects such as changes in lake water temperature and strong winds brought by typhoons. Despite these challenges, there were also determined prospects in the tilapia industry in the city like the growing demand of tilapia due to increasing trend of people switching to healthier options, and creating additional value to the tilapia through freezing and processing of tilapia to convert it to another food product such as dried, smoked, and filleted tilapia.

After completing the study, the results show that the tilapia operations in the city of San Pedro was just mature in terms of years of exposure as a means of livelihood in the area, but the subsector has still a lot of potential for development only if, necessary planning and recommendations shall be taken into consideration and action, eventually. In order to help the tilapia subsector prosper in the city of San Pedro, the key players must work hand- in-hand to achieve better product flow within the city. Recommendations were provided which includes the vertical integration, financial support programs, further research and development financing of the government for better breeds or tilapia strains, continuous organization of seminars and workshops, investment on building a fish sanctuary or hatchery, and Laguna de Bay rehabilitation.

Language

English

LC Subject

Tilapia, Fish trade--Philippines, Production control, Marketing

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993 2019 M17 B56

Notes

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Document Type

Thesis

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