Analysis of Production Diversity and Market Access and their Relationship to the Food Insecurity of Coconut Farming Households in Candelaria, Quezon Province, 2025

Date

6-2025

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Geny F. Lapiña

Committee Member

Maria Angeles O. Catelo

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Abstract

Food insecurity is a major problem for coconut farming households in Candelaria, Quezon, despite the region's vital role in the Philippine coconut industry. Many coconut farmers live in poverty, face low and unstable incomes, and have limited access to markets and diverse food sources, leading to diets dominated by staples like rice and little dietary variety. The study aimed to better understand how production diversity and market access affect food insecurity among these households, with the goal of helping farmers and local leaders develop strategies to improve the food security status of coconut farmers.

This study surveyed 66 coconut farming households in Candelaria and found that most households are low-income, with nearly half earning less than 4,812 pesos per person every month. If they rely solely on coconut farming, about 73 percent will fall under the poverty threshold. These farmers generally practice moderate crop diversity but have limited livestock. On average, it takes them 24 minutes to reach their local market, where they purchase 85 percent of the food they consume in a week. Their diets are mostly made up of rice and fish. Most have moderate to high dietary diversity, however, their intake of some food groups are not at par with the recommended levels. While most households have acceptable food consumption scores, six out of ten still experience some level of food insecurity, often worrying about having enough food and relying on cheaper options.

The study also found that higher educational attainment is linked to less food insecurity and more diverse farming. Female farmers also tend to have less diverse farms. It was also determined that income class is a strong factor in food insecurity, and that none of the poorest households were food secure. However, simply having a more diversified farm or being closer to markets does not guarantee food security, since most food is bought rather than produced. Overall, the findings highlight that food security in these communities depends on education and income, not just farm diversity or market access.

The study recommends the implementation of programs to boost the income of coconut farming households in Candelaria, especially for the poorest families, to improve food security. It also suggests promoting nutrition education to help families eat a balanced diet and supporting educational attainment, as they are linked to better food security and production diversity. Households are advised to seek other income sources beyond coconut farming. For future research, using random sampling, larger sample sizes, and more detailed questionnaires, such as food diaries and questions about special occasions, will provide more accurate and comprehensive results. Adding qualitative interviews and measuring physical access to food using other matrices, such as transportation costs and distances, will further enrich the understanding of these households’ challenges.

Language

English

LC Subject

Coconut industry—Philippines, Food security—Environmental aspects

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2025 A14 C37

Notes

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Document Type

Thesis

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