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Effects of Farmers\u27 Machinery Utilization Under Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund\u27s Mechanization Program on Farm Yield and Net Income in Selected Rice Farmers in Calamba City, Dry Season, 2024
No full textThe Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) was highly debated. Tobias (2019) stated that Filipino farmers must compete with cheap importing while unsure of the preventive measures, leaving them poor. However, the DA-PhilRice (2019) emphasized that the law enabled farmers to improve productivity, reduce production costs, and receive RCEF programs. One program under RCEF was the mechanization program, which aimed to increase yield and income. However, there was a lack of empirical data about rice farmers’ machinery utilization under RCEF’s mechanization program and its relationship to farm yield and net income. Hence, the study aimed to determine the effects of farmers’ machinery utilization under RCEF’s Mechanization Program on farm yield and net income in Calamba City during the dry season.
The study was conducted in Calamba City where 42 rice farmers under the program and 25 rice farmers without the program were interviewed using a survey questionnaire. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Poisson regression, cost and return analysis, Student’s t-test, and Spearman’s correlation.
Results showed that land preparation, harvesting, and threshing were the activities in which farmers mostly utilized farm machinery. Rice farmers benefiting from the program highly utilized hand tractors while rice farmers without the program favored floating tillers. With and without the program, a combine harvester was the most utilized farm machinery in harvesting and threshing. Among the beneficiaries of the program, rice farmers also used their own, custom hire, and cooperative-owned machinery. It was observed that rice farmers under the program prefer to custom hire smaller machinery and utilize RCEF’s big farm machinery. The study also identified significant machinery- related factors (affordability, compatibility, trialability, and observability) and institutional factors (access to farm machinery and equipment, access to expanded rice credit assistance, and access to rice extension services) using Poisson regression.
The study presented that rice farmers without the program had higher average total revenue and expenses per ha than rice farmers with the program. In addition, the study showed a positive relationship between machinery utilization and the farm yield of rice farmers under the program using Spearman’s correlation. Meanwhile, the machinery utilization of rice farmers without the program had a positive relationship with farm yield and net farm income. Moreover, the Student’s t-test revealed that there is no significant difference in farm yield and net farm income between rice farmers under the program and those without the program. Thus, the study recommends reviewing and evaluating RCEF’s mechanization program concurrently with the reported amendment of the RTL. If RCEF programs are pursued, the study suggests linking RCEF’s credit program, and extension program with the mechanization program to help rice farmers. For future research, comparing the costs and returns between rice farmers only using RCEF machinery among program beneficiaries and rice farmers without the program may be conducted in other RCEF beneficiary areas to capture the effects of machinery utilization under the program on farm yield and net farm income on a national scale
Consumer Perception and Purchase Intention on Filipino Artisanal Chocolates Among Residents from Metro Manila
No full textArtisanal chocolate represents a growing niche in the global chocolate industry, characterized by small-batch production, high-quality ingredients, and a strong focus on craftsmanship and innovation. This research paper examines consumer perceptions and purchase intention related to Filipino artisanal chocolates in Metro Manila. The goal is to uncover what drives these preferences and intentions to purchase within this specific market.
The research highlights a promising market for Filipino artisanal chocolates in Metro Manila, particularly among younger adults who value high-quality, visually appealing, and culturally authentic products. This aligns with a broader global trend towards artisanal and premium chocolate introductions, which have seen a steady increase with an average compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4% over the last five years. The majority of respondents (51%) fall between 18 and 24 years old, with another 33% aged 25 to 34. There is a notable gender skew, with 57% of respondents identifying as women. This suggests a key opportunity for brands to strategically tailor their marketing and product development towards a younger, predominantly female demographic.
The study identifies a balanced consumption pattern, with chocolate primarily purchased for personal enjoyment rather than solely for gifting. Both artisanal chocolate consumers (77.5%) and non-consumers (79%) prioritize personal consumption. This suggests a potential for brands to position their products as both a personal treat and a gift, appealing to a wider range of purchasing motivations.
Consumers place a high premium on quality when selecting artisanal chocolate, followed by packaging and branding. Quality is cited as the most important factor by artisanal chocolate consumers, with 62% of respondents strongly agreeing that it influences their purchasing decisions. This is reinforced by non-consumers, with 76% strongly agreeing or somewhat agreeing that quality is essential. Packaging also plays a crucial role, with 67% of consumers stating that it impacts their decision to purchase. This suggests a demand for a visually appealing and premium presentation that complements the high-quality product.
The importance of a distinct Filipino cultural identity in branding is further emphasized, as it resonates positively with both consumers (55% strongly agree or somewhat agree) and non-consumers (59% strongly agree or somewhat agree). This highlights a desire for products that showcase Filipino heritage and craftsmanship. Brands can leverage this by incorporating local ingredients, using culturally significant designs, and crafting narratives that appeal to national pride.
While consumers recognize the value proposition of artisanal chocolate and are willing to pay a premium for quality, price sensitivity is a crucial factor. A significant proportion of consumers (56%) agree that artisanal chocolates are expensive, impacting their purchase decisions. Among non-consumers, this perception is less pronounced, with 59% finding prices reasonable and 78% believing they offer value for money. This suggests a need for brands to balance premium pricing with affordability and clearly communicate the value proposition of their products to justify higher prices.
The study emphasizes the effectiveness of value-oriented promotional strategies, including discounts, “buy one, get one” offers, and free samples. Discounted prices are a strong driver for consumers, with 88% agreeing that they would be encouraged to purchase. This highlights the importance of strategic pricing and promotions to attract price-conscious consumers.
Social media platforms, particularly Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, are shown to heavily influence purchase decisions, showcasing the power of visually driven platforms in promoting artisanal chocolate. Among consumers, 80% consider Instagram influential, followed by Facebook at 66%. For non-consumers, Instagram holds a similar influence (71%), with Facebook following at 52%. This suggests a strategic opportunity for brands to invest in visually engaging content, influencer collaborations, and targeted advertising on these platforms to reach a wider audience.
Furthermore, personal recommendations from friends and family play a significant role in shaping purchasing behaviour, reinforcing the importance of word- of-mouth marketing. The research demonstrates that positive shopping experiences and a well-designed retail environment contribute to a willingness to pay a premium, signifying the value consumers place on a holistic experience.
The research concludes that the Filipino artisanal chocolate market in Metro Manila holds significant potential for growth. To effectively capitalize on this opportunity, brands need to address consumer expectations regarding quality, cultural relevance, and price. Aligning product offerings with these preferences and adopting targeted promotional strategies will enable brands to build a stronger market presence and cultivate a loyal customer base among a growing segment of young, discerning, and culturally aware consumers who value local, high-quality products
Comparing Conventional and Modified Cage Wheel Performance in Lowland Conditions
Get PDFIn agricultural production, significant cost consumption from tillage due to high energy input and low work performance may be reduced by improving the design of hand tractor components, specifically tractive devices. This study aimed to compare the field performance of conventional and modified cage wheels for hand tractors in terms of field efficiency (FE), wheel slip, and fuel consumption (FC). Using the Philippine standard methods of testing for walking-type tractors and a two-tailed t-test to analyze the data, results showed that the modified cage wheel had an FE of 90.09%, wheel slip of 7.78%, FC of 0.22 L/h, and FC per area of 0.71 L/ha while the conventional cage wheel had an FE of 86.90%, wheel slip of 13.37%, FC of 0.40 L/h, and FC per area of 1.11 L/ha. The reduced wheel slip and FC values prove that utilization of the modified cage wheel in wetland conditions is more suitable in improving field performance than the conventional cage wheel
Rehydration Kinetics of Green Pea Grains Dried at Different Microwave Powers
Get PDFIn this study, both untreated and pre-treated green pea grain samples dried at different microwave output powers (90, 180, and 360 W) were rehydrated at three different temperatures (30ºC, 50ºC, and 70ºC). The rehydration kinetics of dried peas were analyzed using both the Peleg and the first-order kinetic models. Observations revealed that the Peleg model exhibited better agreement with the experimental data. As both microwave power and rehydration temperature increased, the rehydration capacity also increased in both pre-treated and untreated peas. The highest moisture content was observed after rehydration in pre-treated peas dried at 360 W microwave power (2.80 g water/g dry matter and 213.40% mass gain), while the lowest moisture content was recorded in pre-treated samples dried at 90 W microwave power (1.66 g water/g dry matter and 119.30% mass gain). However, the samples were unable to reach the moisture level (3.10 g water/g dry matter) before drying at all rehydration temperatures. The activation energy of rehydration varied between 10.75 and 37.39 kJ/mol. The color properties of rehydrated green pea grains were significantly influenced by both microwave power and rehydration temperature. As these two parameters increased, the color differences of rehydrated peas compared to fresh peas also increased. The maximum total color difference (E = 17.66) in rehydrated peas compared to fresh peas was observed at 360 W microwave power and 70ºC rehydration temperature with untreated green peas, while the least total color difference (E = 8.69) occurred at 90 W microwave power and 30ºC rehydration temperature with pre-treated green peas
Bioactivity and Synergism of Tagpo (Ardisia tomentosa) Molluscicidal Extracts
Get PDFPopulation control of golden apple snails (GAS, Pomacea canaliculata) is beneficial in rice farming; however, the associated control measures can be expensive and time-consuming. Currently, farmers use synthetic molluscicides such as niclosamide to control GAS infestation, but this has some drawbacks. For example, niclosamide has broad toxicity to non-target organisms and negatively affects the growth of rice seedlings. Plant extracts with potent bioactivity and low toxicity to non-target organisms are attractive alternatives to synthetic molluscicides. In this study, the bioactivity of the crude fruit extract of tagpo (Ardisia tomentosa) was assessed against GAS and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fries. The potential molluscicidal synergism between tagpo extract and niclosamide was also assessed by dose-response modeling. To generate data, snails and fish fries were exposed to six or eight concentrations of test substances in one or three trials for 24 h (48 h for fish assay) followed by a 24-h recovery. Snail and fish mortality was assessed by motility criterion to model doseresponse curves and estimate lethal concentrations. Lethal ratio tests were performed in R and interpreted at 95% confidence level. The results showed that tagpo extract exhibited high molluscicidal activity against GAS (LC50 = 27.83 ± 0.53 ppm, value ± standard error, simulated field conditions); however, it showed toxicity to tilapia fries (LC50 = 5.36 ± 0.21 ppm). Both tagpo extract and niclosamide also exhibited synergistic bioactivity on snails, thus supporting tagpo extract as a novel source of potent molluscicides worthy of further development
The Cost-of-Illness of Dengue Fever Occurence in Barangay Tumana from the Flooding by Typhoon Ulysses
No full textThis study estimated the value of health impacts from dengue incidences in Barangay Tumana, Marikina City from the flooding caused by Typhoon Ulysses in November 2020. It also analyzed the factors that may have affected the vulnerability of households from dengue and its symptoms. The cost-of-illness method and probit regression model were used respectively.
The prevalence of dengue was categorized into two, those who self-medicated, and those who sought professional medical assistance. It was found that there were 30 households that showed symptoms of dengue, with 22 that chose self-medication, and 8 that decided to seek a medical professional. The total cost of illness of dengue fever and its symptoms of Php 68,350.00. When the total is divided to the 30 households affected, this resulted in an average of Php 2,278.00 This is almost 5% of the computed average monthly income of Php 48,000.00 per household. The factors the were found to be statistically significant in the household\u27s vulnerability to dengue and its symptoms flooding are sex, household size and length of flooding inside the household
Gastrointestinal nematode infections of deer and sheep in an agritourism farm in Bogor, Indonesia
No full textBackground: This study aimed to investigate gastrointestinal nematode infections of Indonesian deer and sheep in an agritourism farm. Method: A total of 54 fecal samples were collected from spotted deer (Axis axis; n=6), Timor deer ( Rusa timorensis; n=3) and sheep (n=45) from an agritourism farm in Bogor Regency, West Java, Indonesia. In addition, five fecal samples were collected from five Timor deer enclosures in Bogor city. All samples were subjected to fecal egg and larval identification. Collected larvae were identified by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. Results: Gastrointestinal nematode infection was higher in sheep than deer. Most infections were caused by strongyle infection in both animals. In this study, Haemonchus contortus was successfully sequenced from sheep and Indonesian deer. Our results showed that H. contortus isolates from Indonesian deer were placed in a clade with H. contortus from other infected hosts like sheep and goats. Conclusions: This is the first report of H. contortus isolated from Indonesian deer. The parasite control program is necessary to be conducted in both animals, especially considering the high number of sheep infected with nematode in the studied farm
Factors Affecting Job Intention: Evidence from a UPLB-CEM Internship
No full textInternship programs serve as a crucial bridge between academic knowledge and practical workplace experience, shaping individuals\u27 skills and perspectives for their future careers. This study investigates the factors influencing job intention among undergraduate senior students in the College of Economics and Management (CEM) at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). Utilizing an online survey, data was collected from 134 participants who had completed internship programs. Employing ordinal logistic regression analysis, the study examines the impact of various factors on job intention. Findings reveal that the training program and nature of the job significantly affect students\u27 intent for a job. Recommendations for future research include employing randomized sampling methods, refining measurement scales and questionnaires, and expanding sample sizes to enhance the reliability and applicability of findings in this field
Fruit Jus - Labay Agribiz Juice Manufacturing: An Entrepreneurial Venture Report
No full textLabay Agribiz Juice Manufacturing, a solely owned business, was established in August 2023. It seeks to be a substitute juice among different juice products offered in the market. The juice we offer is natural, healthy, and refreshing beverage in the competitive market.
With the rise of health consumers seeking natural and low-sugar alternatives, there\u27s a gap for bottled fruit juice products that can be stored for a while and can be refrigerated when needed. It also differs from other fruit juices in the market that offer fruit juice but plenty of ice and sugar.
It is operated by the entrepreneur with a staff compromising of family members. He is the one in the charge of financing and marketing. His brothers do the production with help and supervision from the owner. His mother helped in financing the money and doing the legalities and documentary requirements of the business. The business started selling fruit concentrates in its early stages (August 2023- November 2023) but shifted to ready-to-drink bottled fruit juice starting December 2023. It offered 2 flavors, lemon and orange and focused on manufacturing lemon flavor based on market response and capacity of the business.
There is a big market for natural and healthy beverages and it continues to expand, with consumers increasingly seeking these options. Labay Agribiz Juice Manufacturing aims to capture this segment by offering ready-to-drink bottled fruit juice, that is naturally made, without preservatives added, chilled (doesn\u27t need ice), and worth the value of their money. The business sources its raw materials from the local market and continually researches and connects to wholesalers who offer the raw materials for lower prices than the one established. Helping the business to reduce costs more and maximize profits
Analysis of Changes in Food Spending Habits of UPLB Faculty and Staff Before and After the Covid-19 Pandemic
No full textIn order to understand how the pandemic may have affected food spending habits among university employees, a study was conducted in UPLB to analyze the changes in food spending habits of UPLB faculty and staff before and after the COVID-19 pandemic using a survey questionnaire that asked how they perceived the pandemic to affect their factors in consuming Food At Home (FAH) and Food Away From Home (FAFH). The results of the survey showed that FAH remained the most common food consumed before and after the pandemic with FAFH consumption increasing in frequency during the pandemic. A regression analysis was performed on select variables suspected of affecting the changes in FAH and FAFH consumptions before and after the pandemic. The results of the regression showed that change in FAH consumption is negatively affected by changes in its own price. Changes in FAFH prices and the perception that FAH is healthy positively affect changes in FAH consumption. For changes in FAFH expenditures, changes in the price of FAH and having at most an undergraduate degree as compared to a graduate degree negatively affected changes in FAFH expenditure, while changes in income and female-headed households has a positive relationship with a change in FAFH expenditure