Factors Associated with the Level of Adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) among Members of the Taguig Mag-iitik Producers Cooperative

Date

5-2026

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Economics

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Dinah Pura T. Depositario

Committee Member

Rei Chino C. Pua, Hanna D. Miranda-Quibot, Nanette A. Aquino

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Abstract

The adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) among smallholder duck farmers in the Philippines remains uneven despite increasing efforts from the government agencies and cooperatives to promote standardized and sustainable farming practices. One of the cooperatives in the Philippines strives to adapt to these practices, the Taguig Mag-iitik Producers Cooperative (TMPC). At TMPC, variations in the level of GAP adoption persists, suggesting that exposure to training and awareness alone may not guarantee full implementation of recommended practices. Thus, this study focused on determining the factors associated with the level of GAP adoption among members of Taguig Mag-iitik Producers cooperative, with particular emphasis on examining how the sociodemographic characteristics and behavioral factors adopted from the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is associated with the adoption behavior of the respondents. Moreover, this study aims to: 1) Describe the socio-demographic profile of the members of the Taguig Mag-iitik Producers Cooperative and its farm characteristics; 2) Determine the level of GAP adoption among the members of the cooperative; 3) Describe the farmers’ perception towards GAP standards; 4) Determine the farmers’ intention to adopt GAP in their practices; 5) Assess the farmers’ challenges and experiences in implementing GAP; 6) Analyze the relationship between selected factors and the level of GAP adoption; and 7) Provide strategic recommendations that can promote greater adoption and implementation of GAP within the cooperative.

This study surveyed the thirty-five (35) duck farmers who were selected through total enumeration technique. A descriptive-correlational research design was employed utilizing structured questionnaires and supplemented by interviews to gather both quantitative and qualitative data from the respondents. The research instrument was based on the publication of Food and Agriculture Organization (2007) on the GAP standards and was reviewed by the adviser of the researcher. Statistical analyses were performed, including weighted mean, mean comparison, and Spearman rank correlation to examine the relationships between variables and the level of GAP adoption. Spearman rank correlation was employed to the study since the data are ordinal and the study focuses on monotonic relationship rather than strict linearity.

The results of this study showed the study concludes that GAP adoption among TMPC members is not solely influenced by individual characteristics but is largely shaped by behavioral, social, and resource-related factors. The findings further support the applicability of the Theory of Planned Behavior in explaining GAP adoption among duck farmers, particularly the influence of subjective norms and perceived behavioral control on actual farming behavior. Strengthening training programs, technical assistance, cooperative support, and access to financial and material resources may therefore help improve the adoption and consistent implementation of GAP among duck raisers in the cooperative.

Despite the presence of moderate to high adopters of GAP practices, several constraints hinder the full implementation of GAP practices. The key barriers determined in this study were financial limitations, lack of access to necessary inputs, and resource constraints, which affects the ability of the farmers to comply with more advanced GAP standards. Furthermore, the findings also highlighted that adoption is not solely dependent on knowledge or training exposure but is strongly influenced by the behavioral factors such as peer influence, cooperative support, and perceived capability to implement the practices.

With these findings, the researcher formulated with several recommendations to improve GAP adoption within the cooperative. At the cooperative level, the establishment of a shared financial support system, such as resource pooling and rotational assistance schemes, is recommended to reduce individual’s costs and burdens. Meanwhile, TMPC farmers are encouraged to adopt income diversification strategies, such as processing unsellable or damaged eggs into value-added products such as balut leche flan, duck-egg snacks, and other derivatives to strengthen their financial capacity. Also, the local government unit of Taguig City and agricultural agencies are encouraged to provide continuous technical and financial support to ensure a long-term implementation of GAP.

Overall, the findings emphasize that adoption of GAP among smallholder duck farmers in Taguig Mag-iitik Producers Cooperative is largely behavior-driven rather than determined by socio-demographic characteristics. Therefore, strengthening the behavioral factors, including support from the cooperative, peer influence from co-duck raisers, and perceived capability of the farmers while combining with the financial and institutional support is crucial in achieving full and sustained adoption of GAP in TMPC in the long run. This study contributes to the limited literature on GAP adoption in cooperative-based duck farming and provides practical insights for developing targeted interventions that promote sustainable agricultural practices and improve the competitiveness of the duck farming sector.

Language

English

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993 2026 M17 B73

Notes

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Award: ICOOP-Coop College PH Best Special Problem (SP) Report in Cooperatives Award

Document Type

Thesis

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