Virgelio Dargantes Jr.

Participatory Coconut Planting Project (PCPP) is one of the programs implemented by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) that aims to achieve the increasing productivity and income of coconut farmers. The study was conducted to find out the level of involvement of 145 coconut farmers, from the three selected municipalities of Northwestern Leyte, in the PCPP and determine the factors that influenced their participation. Descriptive statistics like percentages, frequency counts, means, and ranges were employed. Moreover, regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between the socio-demographic/economic characteristics and other factors that influenced farmers' involvement in PCPP. Findings revealed that most of the respondents were middle-aged, males, and married. They had low educational levels and annual income and the majority of them did not attend pieces of training. They were land owners cultivating an average area of 1.5 hectares. Moreover, the majority of the respondents had fully taken part in the overall activities of PCPP which indicates genuine participation. Factors that have a high level of significance to the level of involvement were the following: educational attainment, number of training attended, benefit satisfaction, and perceived satisfaction towards the project. Other significantly related factors were sex, age, benefits awareness, and effectiveness of the Coconut Development Officer (CDO) in the delivery of services. Apparently, the most common problem encountered by the farmers was coconut pest infestation. Hence, regular monitoring from the CDO staff and provision by PCA of sufficient pesticides to control infestations are hoped to prove the productivity of coconut farms.

Rice is the most important crop grown in the Philippines since it is an essential food and a source of income for many Filipinos. The study’s purpose is to determine the various influencing factors affecting the rice production of small-scale farmers in Albuera, Leyte, Philippines. Using Slovin’s formula, a total of 73 rice farmers were randomly selected as respondents to the survey. Some descriptive techniques were employed to summarize the different variables. A categorical relationship analysis using a Chi-square test was used to analyze the significant factors of rice production. Results showed that about 57.53% and 42.47% of the farmers are experiencing low and high production levels, respectively. On average, rice farmers are "moderately affected" (M=23.00, SD=4.55) by the different constraints in the rice production process from planting to harvesting. In addition, farmers are  "uncertain" (M=19.67, SD=3.01) about the effectiveness and usefulness of extens...

Rice farming is one of the main sources of income in many rural areas in the Philippines. The purpose of this study is to model the different constraints that influence the level of rice farmers' income in Albuera, Leyte, Philippines. Survey data from an available sample of participants were gathered through a face-to-face interview consisting of the rice farmers' income and its determining constraints. Some descriptive measures were calculated to summarize the gathered variables and ordinary least square (OLS) regression analysis was employed to predict the significant constraints of farmers' monthly income. Results revealed that the rice farmers' monthly income is below the poverty line as the Philippine poverty threshold is concerned, that is, rice farmers in rural areas are considered "poor". The farmers have said that their rice production and income level are "affected" by the following constraints: "high prices of agricultural inputs", "inadequate capital", and "pest and diseases". Additionally, their rice production and income are moderately affected by "lack of credit facilities", "lack of technical services", and "weeds". Moreover, the two constructed statistical models showed that the following constraints are significant factors affecting the income level of rice farmers: "high prices of agricultural inputs", "lack of credit facilities", "high cost of transportation", "low educational attainment", and "land rent". Conclusively, farmers are in need of assistance from the local government concerning access to credit for capital, adoption of new technologies in farming, and other facilities that might improve their production. Furthermore, farmers must undergo some seminars and training to strengthen their knowledge of rice farming and improve their practices to increase their level of production, well-being, and monthly income.