Adaptation Strategies to Typhoons of Milkfish Producers in Dagupan City

Date

11-2016

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Dinah Pura T. Depositario

Committee Member

Normito R. Zapata Jr., Nanette A. Aquino, Mar B. Cruz, Agnes T. Banzon

Abstract

Natural disasters have wrought significant amount of damages to the Philippines. Being an agricultural country, it is in our greatest interest that the agriculture and aquaculture be shielded from adverse effects of such disasters. Milkfish production, being one of the major contributors in overall aquaculture production, is not spared from these impacts. This paper focused on the adaptation strategies milkfish producers in Dagupan City employ to minimize the effects of typhoons that affect the locality.

Forty-five fishpond operators, five consignacion owners, and five deboners were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire that was administered to them by the researcher. Through the use of these questionnaires, the researcher was able to determine the profile of the key players, management practices, effects of typhoons, and adaptation strategies that key players employ before and after typhoons. The descriptive statistics used included frequency analysis, means and as well as graphs. Profitability analysis was also done to compare the earnings before and after typhoons and with and without adaptation strategies.

Initial investment for milkfish production was found to range from Php 280,500 to about Php 966,000. These investments were all shouldered by the fishpond operators through their personal savings or through micro-financing. On the other hand, investments for repairs after typhoons can reach more or less Php 100,000 depending on how long the repairs will be done, how many laborers would the operators need to get the job done, and the current prices of the materials that would be needed.

The supplies of fries of these producers were found to come from Binmaley, Lingayen, Ilocos Norte, or Indonesia. Prices of these fries ranged Php 4.00 to Php 5.50 per fry. Meanwhile, the producers’ supply of feeds used for their production came from known suppliers in Dagupan and Bulacan, among others. Price of these feeds ranged from Php 600 to Php 750 per bag. Majority of the interviewed fishpond operators did not hire additional workforce to limit costs, and instead solicited the help of family members. The average cropping for the milkfish production per year is two and the volume of production is dependent on the stocking density of the fishpond. Mortality rates are usually given by the input suppliers of fries. Growers do not usually harvest during the off-season period because the milkfish at this time is smaller and is therefore priced lower.

The disposition of harvests of the producers occurs in the Magsaysay Fish Landing Center where the producers enter consignment agreement with consignacion owners. Consignacion owners usually handle 2,000 to 20,000 pcs or 667 to 6667 kilograms of bangus every day. The price of bangus per kilogram is fluctuating every day but within the range of Php 70 to Php 110 depending on the size and demand and supply of bangus on particular days.

In 2009, Typhoon Pepeng caused great damage to Dagupan and affected 877.64 hectares of fishpond with an estimated total value of Php 182,427,414.38, which were lost due to the overflow the flooding has caused. According to the fishpond operators, the growth of the milkfish was affected when the fish became stressed; hence prolonging the cropping period of up to four weeks. The prolonged cropping period resulted to additional costs for the feeds that the stocks utilize during the four-week period. There were also costs incurred for the repair of destroyed structures which reached to about Php 100,000 depending on the area of the fishpond and extent of damage.

The adaptation strategies already employed were: fortifying their defenses, diversifying livelihood, rehabilitating destroyed fishpond structures, and conditioning of fishponds, among others. The cost for these adaptation strategies reached an average of Php 30,850.00 for micro-small scale operators (less than one hectare fishponds), Php 84,000.00 for small-scale operators (one to three hectare fishponds) and Php 171,000.00 for medium-scale operators (three to five hectare fishponds).

The resiliency-related issues faced by milkfish producers include the unavailability of trainings/seminars related to disaster preparedness for fishponds, the absence of early warning systems, and unawareness of fishpond operators to fisheries insurance. Further, there is a need for post-typhoon financial assistance as the additional costs that fishpond operators incur after typhoons, together with the lowering of price because of supply and demand, leads the fishpond operators to suffer substantial losses.

Lastly, there is a need for development and support plans for the disaster preparedness of milkfish producers in Dagupan City. Milkfish producers should be encouraged to diversify their livelihoods in order to reduce their dependency on fishpond operations. Government units should also intensify the awareness of the fishpond operators to the programs that they can avail, and link fishpond operators to technology and agriculture experts to help the former with climate variability-related challenges to their operations.

Language

English

LC Subject

Milkfish industry, Typhoons, Natural disasters--Philippines

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993 2016 M17 R67

Notes

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Document Type

Thesis

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