Addressing food security: saba banana and rootcrops as alternative food staples to rice in Quezon Province, Philippines

Issue Date

2015

Abstract

The Philippines considers rice self-sufficiency as vital to food security; hence, possible alternative food staples are being identified in cade of persistent shortfalls in domestic rive production. This paper explores the potential of Saba (cardava) banana, sweet potato, potato, yam, and cassava as alternative staples for the local communities in the Quezon province, Philippines, which grow all these crops. Socio-economic surveys of 375 farmers, 82 traders, and 625 consumers were conducted in 2013 but covered crop year 2012, Results showed that Saba banana, sweet potato, and cassava had the highest demand among the five crops based on per capita consumption. These crops ranked top three in terms of possible substitutes for rice. However, willingness to substitute is largely for breakfast and relatively less for other meals. While findings indicated a demand for alternative crops, average yield per hectare and production per farm of each of the five crops were low as compared with the provincial average. Despite low production levels, a greater proportion of total produce was marked reflecting the crops' marketability and potential as additional income source. Recommendations on how to intensify production and to encourage rice substitution particularly with Saba banana, sweet potato, and cassava are forwarded.

Source or Periodical Title

The Journal of Public Affairs and Development

ISSN

2244-3983

Volume

2

Issue

2

Page

143-168

Document Type

Article

College

College of Public Affairs and Development (CPAf)

Frequency

semi-annually

Physical Description

graphs; tables; references

Language

English

Subject

Saba banana; Root crops; Food security

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