Technical efficiency of shallow tubewell irrigated rice production in Lumban, Laguna, 2014

Date

7-2015

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Antonio Jesus A. Quilloy

Abstract

Shallow tubewell (STW) irrigation is a portable type of irrigation system that draws water from the shallow ground water supply. It has been considered as the best small-scale irrigation system in lowland rice areas because of low maintenance cost. Beside the cost advantage offered by STW irrigation, this study aimed to determine if this type of irrigation system has effects on productivity. The specific objectives of the study were: (1) to analyze cultural management practices of STW and non-STW irrigated rice farms (2) to determine if there are significant differences in the usage of production inputs between STW and non-STW irrigated rice farms (3) to determine if there is significant difference in yields between STW and non-STW irrigated rice farms (4) to determine if there is significant difference in profit between STW and non-STW irrigated rice farms and (5) to determine if there is significant difference in technical efficiency between STW and non-STW irrigated rice farms. Dry season input-output data covering the period December 2013 to April 2014 were obtained from 30 randomly selected STW and 30 randomly selected non-STW rice farmers in Lumban, Laguna. This study utilized the stochastic production frontier approach in analyzing the effects of STW irrigation in rice farm productivity. The study revealed that STW and non-STW farmers in Lumban differed in terms of the rates of application of fertilizer and chemicals and area planted. STW farmers had lower usage of fertilizer and chemicals but higher area planted. Meanwhile, non-STW farmers had higher rates of fertilizer and chemical application but lower area planted. The two farm groups were generally similar in terms of the usage of other inputs and specific types of labor operations practiced. Specifically, yields of the STW farmers are higher than those of non-STW farms. Despite these differences in production, the differences in profit between the farm groups were not statistically significant. Technical efficiency was higher for non-STW farms. This meant that these farms are closer to their frontier production level. Meanwhile, STW farms are farther from their frontier production level, which may suggest that their yields could still be increased without employing more production inputs. These results suggest that investing on ways to improve the skills of the farmers in utilizing STW irrigation may result to higher low land rice production.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

Thesis

Document Type

Thesis

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