Financial vulnerability of Laguna Lake fish cage owners in selected Barangays of Los Baños, Laguna due to an extreme southwest monsoon, 2012

Date

4-2013

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Manilay, Alessandro A.

Committee Member

Quicoy, Cesar B.

Abstract

Small scale aquaculture, particularly fish cage operation is a major source of livelihood among communities in Los Baños located along the coast of the Laguna Lake. This type of enterprise is heavily dependent on weather conditions. Any change in the lake environment brought about by extreme weather conditions may have serious repercussions on the financial condition of fish cage operators. In August 2012, a strong southwest monsoon, greatly affected the fish farmers in Laguna Lake. This study was conducted to determine how this weather event financially affected the Los Baños fish farmers. This study specifically aimed to: (1) compare the level of production of fish cage operation before and after the extreme southwest monsoon in August 2012, (2) analyze the net cash income of fish cage operators before and after an extreme southwest monsoon of August 2012, and (3) identify adaptation strategies implemented by the fish cage operators to minimize risk due to extreme weather disturbances. Based on 45 randomly selected respondents from four barangays in Los Baños (Bambang, Bayog, Malinta and Tadlac), this study found out that on average, after the extreme southwest monsoon in 2012: (1) fish cage production significantly decreased, (2) production cost in fish cage operation significantly increased because of higher repair cost, and (3) net cash income in fish cage operation significantly decreased. Furthermore, it was found out that Barangay Malinta was most financially vulnerable, while Barangay Tadlac was the least financially affected by the monsoon. The study recommended that the government should provide adequate financial assistance to fish cage operators to help them shoulder the expenses in repairing the fish cages and that these operators form an organization to minimize their financial risks in the face of extreme weather events.

Language

English

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management

Call Number

Thesis

Document Type

Thesis

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