Awareness and willingness of rainfed rice farmers in selected areas in San Ildefonso, Bulacan to participate in the insurance program of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation

Date

5-2016

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Normito R. Zapata Jr.

Abstract

This paper investigated the level of awareness among the rainfed farmers in selected areas in San Ildefonso, Bulacan about rice crop insurance and their willingness to participate in the programs of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation. Specifically it aimed to: 1) describe the farm profile and socio-demographic characteristics of insured and uninsured farmers 2) discuss the production risks that farmers commonly encounter 3) assess the farmers knowledge and attitude towards crop insurance 4) evaluate the factors that influence farmers decision to avail crop insurance 5) describe how crop insurance helped the insured farmers in coping with the effects of production risk 6) analyze the constraints/problems that arises from crop insurance participation and 7) recommend alternative solutions to the identified problem. A descriptive research design was employed in this study. Using structured questionnaires and knowledge test instruments, a total of 60 respondents which were composed of 30 rain-fed farmers participating in the rice crop insurance program (Insured farmers) and 30 non-participating rain-fed farmers (Uninsured farmers) were surveyed. The sample was identified through convenient sampling from the list of the insured and uninsured rain-fed rice farmers sourced from the PCIC Regional Office III and the Provincial agricultural Office of Bulacan, respectively. The results showed that the insured and uninsured respondents have homogenous socio demographic and farm characteristics, such as age, household size, years if formal education, years in farming and farm productivity, among others. Moreover, the threats commonly encountered in the farming activities include the proliferation of weeds, rice plant diseases, pests, drought and typhoon. It is worth noting that the strong wind and heavy flooding caused by typhoons brought the most extreme damages to the farm. In addition, the results highlighted the importance of intermediaries and sources of information so that the farmers could participate in the rice crop insurance program. Unfortunately, majority of the respondents are not well-informed about the processes and procedures involved in the program. This inadequacy of information prevented the uninsured farmers to participate in the program even though most of these respondents are really interested to avail the insurance. The findings on this study could prove beneficial to PCIC, the Department of Agriculture (DA), Municipal Agricultural Office (MAO), other financial intermediaries like cooperatives, and most especially farmers. This study recommended that PCIC should create programs that are easy to understand by the farmers. This would help them to become more active participants of the programs. On the other hand, the DA-MAO, who is working closely with PCIC, should intensify information dissemination and at the same time improve their assistance to the farmers in relation to the latter?s availment of insurance and claiming of indemnities. It is also recommended that the farmers who are already aware of the rice crop insurance program help in influencing the other farmers who are not yet well informed about the program. The farmers who are not yet participating in the program should actively attend the seminars and conferences conducted in the area. Lastly, to improve the process of application, PCIC should reduce the processing time and requirements for the farmers who have availed rice crop insurance during the previous cropping season.

Language

English

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993 2016 M17 S46

Document Type

Thesis

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