Assessment of Post-Harvest Handling and Processing of Fish in Magallanes, Sorsogon

Date

5-2019

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Faustino Q. Arrienda II

Committee Member

Rachelle A. Mariano, Juan Paulino S. Trespalacio, Junior, Agnes T. Banzon, Normito R. Zapata, Jr.

Abstract

Given the number of islands that Philippines has, fish has and will always be a staple for Filipinos. Fish does not only provide nourishment but it also provides livelihood for over a million Filipinos, approximately over 800,000 of them are small-scale fisherfolk who employ traditional methods in both post-harvest handling and processing.

This study was conducted to assess the current state and practices involved in the post- harvest handling and processing of fish in Magallanes, Sorsogon. The study aimed to (1) describe the profile of the respondents and their enterprises; (2) determine the current post- harvest handling and processing practices being used; (3) identify the problems and opportunities present in the area; and (4) propose recommendations for these issues.

Respondents surveyed include 31 fisherfolk, 29 fish vendors, and ten fish processors who reside and make their living in Magallanes. Aside from gathering data through survey questionnaires, some people involved in the fishing industry were informally interviewed.

Questionnaire Loss Assessment Method (QLAM) was employed to gather data to accomplish the desired outcome, which was to identify problems then recommend solutions through post-harvest losses of fish analysis (PHLFA). PESTLE analysis was also used to describe the environment of the industry.

Majority (93.55%) of the fisherfolk respondents were male. Their ages ranged from 22-63 years. Seventy four percent of the fisherfolk respondents were married, 19.36% were single and the remaining are wither widows or widowers. Their monthly income ranged from 2000 to 30,000 Php and 74.19% of them have been in the industry for more than 8 years. For the fish vendor respondents, a lower relative majority of 75.86% were male. The respondents had an age range of 26-70 years, 96.55% of them were married while the rest were widows/widowers, and they had a monthly income ranging from 1,500 to 20,000 Php. The fish processor respondents with ages ranging from 37 to 69 years, were 70% male. All of them were married who had monthly incomes ranging from 3,000 to 22,000 Php. Eighty percent of them had been processing fish for more than 8 years, 10% for one to three years, and another 10% for seven to eight years.

The problems identified in the fishing industry in Magallanes include for fisherfolk: the lack of proper fishing equipment, lack of government support, and the lack of the proper post-harvest handling knowledge, for fish vendors: the lack of proper storage and transportation vehicles, the lack of post-harvest handling knowledge, and for fish processors: the lack of appropriate storage and processing facilities, and the exclusive use of traditional processing techniques.

Recommendations given to better the fishing industry in the study area however, external support from government and non-government organizations were heavily suggested since they were perceived to possess the power in doing so. In behalf of fisherfolk and fish processors, post-harvest handling and processing equipment aid was suggested. This would help reduce losses by providing tested reliability and effectivity in their respective activities. In behalf of all three of the respondent groups, post-harvest handling and processing education was recommended. This would allow them to grow as workers. With this, fisherfolk and fish vendors could reduce their losses by employing proven post-harvest handling practices into their work routines. This would also give fish processors additional knowledge possibly giving them more options to gain more income. Marketing and financial education was also recommended to better sales and their handling of money and finally, impact assessment and monitoring which would track their progress and fine tune the changes for the better.

Language

English

LC Subject

Fish trade--Philippines, Food handling

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993 2019 M17 D87

Notes

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Document Type

Thesis

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