Characterization of farm mechanization among lowland rice farmers in Laguna, Philippines

Issue Date

12-2016

Abstract

The study was conducted to characterize farm mechanization and determine its economic effects on rice production, income and employment. Ninety rice farmers were randomly selected and classified into three types: high, intermediate, and low-mechanized farms. The results of the study show that highly mechanized farms commonly own pumps, hand tractors, power tillers, and threshers while low mechanized farms tend to rent out their farm operations. The mean horsepower values tend to be higher in land preparation and threshing. The higher the level of mechanization, the higher the output and income per hectare: highly-mechanized farms with PhP 40,446; intermediate farms with PhP36,936; and low-mechanized farms, PhP 19,965. The study also reveals that farm mechanization has a negative effect on farm labor employment. Highly mechanized farms employ the lowest number of farm labor in man-days but employ the highest number of labor on post-production activity, specifically threshing.

Source or Periodical Title

Journal of Economics, Management and Agricultural Development

ISSN

2449-4585

Volume

2

Issue

2

Page

97-108

Document Type

Article

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Frequency

semi-annually

Physical Description

illustration, tables

Language

English

Subject

rice farmers; farm mechanization; farm income; rice farming

En – AGROVOC descriptors

ORYZA SATIVA; RICE FIELDS; LOWLAND; FARM EQUIPMENT; FARM INCOME; PRODUCTION FUNCTIONS

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS