Analysis of the effects of vegetable trading program on the income of the member-beneficiaries of Saint Christopher Multi-Purpose Cooperative in San Pablo City, Laguna, 2011

Date

3-2012

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Marilyn M. Elauria

Committee Member

Salvador Catelo, Chito Yorobe

Abstract

The study generally aimed to evaluate the effects of the Vegetable Trading Program on the income of the member-beneficiaries of Saint Christopher Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SCMPC). The study specifically aimed to: (1) describe the Vegetable Trading Program (VTP) of Saint Christopher Multi-Purpose Cooperative; (2) describe the socio-demographic profile of the farmer-members and the benefits the farmer beneficiaries derived by using the VTP; (3) determine the effects of the Vegetable Trading Program on the prices, volume of produce and net returns of the farmer beneficiaries; (4) determine the members’ level of satisfaction on the Vegetable Trading Program’s management, scope, market targeting and other practices; (5) identify the problems encountered in availing the VTP and; (6) determine the reasons why the non beneficiaries are not availing the Vegetable Trading Program.

The study classified the respondents into member-beneficiaries and non beneficiaries of the VTP. Complete enumeration of all members of SCMPC was employed. During the interview, several important variables were obtained such as the socio-demographic profile, the prices of their farm produce and the volumes of goods produced and their satisfaction ratings on the VTP’s different aspects.

The prices of the farm produce (squash, eggplant and string bean) of two categories were compared using t-test of two means. Among the prices of the three commodities the VTP covered, only the prices of squash of both member-beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries were the only prices which showed a significant difference at 10% probability level.

Cost and return analysis was also employed to compare the member-beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries’ net returns. In both per farm and per hectare average cost and return analysis, the member-beneficiaries were shown to gain higher income. The t-test for the net returns proved that there is a significant difference between the net returns of member-beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries at 1% probability level. The analysis also showed that the member-beneficiaries suffered a great amount of losses in handling the farm produce, in comparison with the non-beneficiaries. This is due to the protocol of the cooperative to wait for the other member-beneficiaries’ harvest. This then results to losses in handling in the member-beneficiaries who harvested their farm produce very early. The problem in handling was also found to be the main problems the member beneficiaries are experiencing.

In the Likert scale for satisfaction on the different aspects of the VTP, the member-beneficiaries were slightly satisfied with management and market targeting of the program and moderately satisfied with the cooperative’s scope, marketing and pricing strategies, on the average. The management was also revealed to be one of the main problems of the member-beneficiaries.

In order to address the problems identified in the study, several recommendations were mentioned such as regular meeting and seminars for the members, training for the cooperative officers for better management, and addressing of problems in post-harvest handling to reduce the losses in handling of member-beneficiaries.

Language

English

Call Number

Thesis

Document Type

Thesis

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