An evaluation of the resource allocation of farmers on selected crops in Benguet

Abstract

Thesis Abstract 1. Title: AN EVALUATION OF THE RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND PROGRAMMING OF FARMERS ON SELECTED CROPS IN BENGUET Total Number of Pages: 154 Text Number of Pages: 84 2. Author: BADIVAL HILARIA B. (Last Name) (First Name) (Middle Initial) 3. Type of Document: Thesis 4. Type of Publication: Unpublished 5. Host/Accrediting Institution: Saint Louis University (Private) Bonifacio Street, Baguio City DECS-CAR 6. Sponsor: None 7. Key Words: Resource Allocation, Efficiency, Optimum Profit, Cost, Resource Input, Output, Enterprise, Productivity, Evaluation, Marginal Cost, Elasticity, Marginal Product, production, Programming, Rate of Return, Monocropping, Multiple Cropping. 8. Abstracts: 8.1 Summary: The study sought to find out (1) whether the resource inputs identified will significantly affect the productivity of cabbage, Chinese cabbage and potato; (2) whether the farmers efficiently allocated the resource inputs; (3) what crop or crop combination gave the highest rate of return (ROI) for the farmers, and (4) whether the farmers who went into multicropping obtained the optimum profit. The study was conducted in Arok with 79 farmer-respondents drawn randomly. 8.2 Methodology The 79 farmer respondents were taken from Arok and were picked out at random. The primary instrument used was the structured interview questionnaire. Validity was established through pretests, suggestions and modifications. This instrument inquired into their profile like age, educational attainment, number of years in farming and reasons for engaging in the vegetable industry. Other data were also gathered like the inputs they used and its price, production volume, and the selling price. The data were analyzed with the use of statistical instruments and mathematical tools like the Cobb-Douglas production function and linear programming. The statistical instruments used are the simple and multiple regression and correlation. 8.2. Findings The results showed that in the production of cabbage and potato on a one half hectare farm area, the various inputs such as labor, seed, organic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer and chemicals were not the only factors which affected the yield during the wet season. The study revealed that most of the various resource inputs were not allocated efficiently by the farmers in the production of cabbage, Chinese cabbage and potato. This resulted to the low rate of return and none attainment of the optimum profit. Farmers who went into the production of cabbage, Chinese cabbage and potatoes were not efficient allocators of the resource inputs identified. Most of the resource inputs were not used at the level where maximum efficiency is attained. Some resource inputs even reached the level where additional units of it will result to negative profit. In the production of cabbage on a half hectare farm area in the wet season, more than what is needed of the inputs were utilized. In the dry season on the same area, only labor was used efficiently. Seed, organic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer and chemicals were excessively used. In the wet season, on a one hectare area, the farmers exceeded a little in the use of labor and chemical. Seed, organic fertilizer and inorganic fertilizer were excessively used. For Chinese cabbage on a half hectare area in the wet season, only inorganic fertilizer was sparingly used while more than what is required of the other inputs were used. On the one hectare area in the dry season, labor, organic fertilizer and chemicals were used excessively while inorganic fertilizer was almost used efficiently. Only seed was used efficiently. In case of potato on a half hectare area in the wet season, all the input resources were used more than what is required. In the dry season only chemical was used less than what is needed. On the one hectare farm area in the wet season, less than what is required of labor and organic fertilizer were utilized by the farmers, while the rest of the resource inputs were excessively used. It was also found out that most of those who went into multicropping did not attain the optimum profit from the use of the available resource inputs. The study also revealed that monocropping gave a higher rate of return than combining two or more of the crops at one time. It was revealed that cabbage gave the highest rate of return to the farmers. 8.3. Conclusions Based on the findings of the study, the following conclusions are made: 1. Most of the resource inputs did not affect significantly the productivity of cabbage, Chinese cabbage and potato. 2. The farmers were using most of the farm inputs to the level exceeding the requirements, thus adding to the cost. 3. Most of the farmers who went into multicropping did not attain the optimum profit in the use of the various resource inputs identified. 4. Monocropping gave a relatively higher rate of return than in the combination of two or more of the three crops. 8.4. Recommendation The following recommendations are forged based on the findings and conclusions: 1. Farmers should be informed and assisted on other factors that also affect greatly the productivity of cabbage, Chinese cabbage and potato aside from labor, seed, organic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer and chemical. 2. The farmers should be given technical assistance which includes proper analysis, usage and measurement of the farm inputs. 3. Monocropping is encouraged rather than combining two or three crops at the same time since they do not have yet the technical know how in going into a diversified farming. 4. The farmers should be trained on production programming and forecasting for them to attain higher rate of return and obtain the optimum profit from the production of the vegetable crops. For Further Study Other researchers are encouraged to study on price fluctuations, amount of rainfall per month, demand trend and supply. Experimental study is also encouraged to determine the standard amount of resource inputs to be used considering the other factors that affect productivity like management practices and others. It would also be worthwhile to study other factors that affect the quality of output so it can qualify to the standard quality demanded by foreign countries or compete with the imported vegetables used by big companies and foreign corporations.