Factors affecting women's participation and its implications on the productivity of aster in Los Baños, Laguna, 2015

Date

6-2015

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Prudenciano U. Gordoncillo

Abstract

In flower farms, women were employed due to their small and agile hands that were ideal for picking blossoms. However, in aster farming, women mostly participated in weeding occasionally in harvesting and planting. During the preliminary interview, it became clear that the aster farmers were in need of additional income because the husband?s income, or the farm income, alone was not enough. Therefore, the participation of women in income generation was needed. Moreover, since the women in the area only wanted to do aster farming, or something not far off, understanding the farm employment of the women is needed. Evidence-based data on the factors that affect women?s employment in aster farming is necessary to enable the government to formulate policies and programs to assist the women in farm work or in acquiring work outside the farm. The study aimed to establish the profiles of selected women participants in aster farms, determine farm activities by gender, nature of women?s employment and the factors that affect their participation. The study also aimed to discover the implications of women?s farm employment status (employed or not employed in the farm) on the productivity of an aster farm. Lastly, the study intended to derive policy implications and recommendations based on the results. A total of 33 aster farming households in Los Baños, Laguna were interviewed to collect pertinent data. Using a structured questionnaire, data were collected regarding the respondents? socio-demographic characteristics, agricultural profile, household characteristics, nature of farm employment and Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice (KAP) scores. The study found that none of the selected factors statistically had an effect on the farm employment status of women except for the number of hired workers. It was also established that the more workers hired in the farm, the less likely were the women of aster-farming households to participate in farm work. Second, the study found out that the nature of participation?compelled to or by choice?was entirely dependent on the presence of available job opportunities in the area and was not associated with either their own socio-demographic characteristics or their spouses?. Lastly, it was concluded that the presence of women workers in aster farms did not have an effect on farm yield. Due to this, the study recommended that the government should intervene and help in providing other forms of employment or at least aid in equipping additional skills needed for the women to find work. Also, further studies regarding the topic were recommended to validate the results of this study and determine whether, for other crops, there exists a relationship between the abovementioned variables and women?s farm employment status.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

Thesis

Document Type

Thesis

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