University Knowledge Digital Repository UPLB (University of the Philippines Los Baños)
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Redefining Corn Farming Systems: Exploring the Shift from Linear to Circular Economy in Lucena, Quezon Province
No full textOne of the critical problems that humanity faces in the modern era is the challenge to feed the rapidly growing population (Pandey and Dwivedi, 2020; Circle Economy, 2021). The Food and Agriculture Organization has predicted that food production will have to rise by at least 5.1 billion tonnes by the year 2050 (FAO, 2017). Thus, sustainability in staple crops is necessary. Aside from rice, corn is considered another staple crop in the Philippines. It ranks second to rice in the utilization of agricultural resources. It is used not only for human consumption but also for animal feeds and industrial uses, hence it is a vital crop in the development of the livestock and manufacturing industries (Exconde, 2023). Significantly, data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) states that Quezon Province is the Top Corn Producer in CALABARZON in 2023. Quezon produced 33,267.00 metric tons of corn in 2023, and it remains the top producer of corn in the CALABARZON region accounting for 60.5 percent of the region’s total production of 54,966.52 metric tons.
This study investigated the adoption of circular economy (CE) practices in corn farming within Lucena City, Quezon Province, as a strategy to enhance sustainability in smallholder agricultural systems. Recognizing the limitations of linear farming models, which contribute to resource depletion and environmental degradation, the research examined the enablers and barriers influencing the transition to CE practices. The study aimed to achieve four objectives: to profile corn farmers and understand how their demographic, social, and economic characteristics shape farming practices; to identify and assess internal and external practices and challenges in adopting CE principles; to evaluate the economic, environmental, and social effects of CE practices; and to determine the success factors influencing the shift from linear to circular economy models in corn farming.
Using a qualitative approach, the study collected data through in-depth interviews with farmers and stakeholders from three associations under the Lucena Corn Growers Federation, managing 204 hectares of corn farms. Thematic analysis was employed to derive insights into practices, challenges, and strategies for integrating CE principles. The findings revealed that farmers face significant challenges, including an aging workforce dominated by males, low educational attainment, small-scale farm operations (0–3 hectares), and economic instability due to limited income sources, pest infestations, and fluctuating market prices.
The analysis highlighted emerging CE practices, such as the use of organic fertilizers, crop residue repurposing, and natural pest management. However, persistent linear practices like burning crop residues and reliance on chemical inputs remain barriers to sustainability. Farmers benefit from external support systems like government subsidies, supplier credit, and training programs, but these are inconsistent and insufficient to drive long-term change. The study also identified economic benefits from CE practices, such as cost reduction and revenue growth through improved crop quality, but income diversification remains underexplored. Environmentally, CE practices enhance soil fertility, promote biodiversity, and improve waste management by repurposing resources like chicken manure and crop residues. Socially, they create employment opportunities, foster skill development, and strengthen community collaboration through resource-sharing initiatives.
Four critical enablers were identified as success factors for adopting CE practices: economic incentives, knowledge dissemination, resource accessibility, and policy and institutional support. Economic incentives, including consistent subsidies and market- driven incentives like price premiums for sustainable crops, are essential. Knowledge dissemination through regular training programs and localized communication bridges awareness gaps and enhances farmers’ technical capacity. Improved infrastructure, such as irrigation systems, storage facilities, and affordable sustainable inputs, directly supports resource efficiency. Finally, robust policy frameworks, organized cooperatives, and sustained public-private partnerships provide the institutional backing needed for effective CE adoption.
The study concluded that CE practices offer transformative potential for sustainability in corn farming. They reduce costs, enhance revenue opportunities, improve soil health and waste management, and foster community resilience. However, financial constraints, knowledge gaps, and inconsistent institutional support remain barriers to full-scale adoption. Recommendations of the study included establishing consistent subsidies and market incentives, implementing sustained training programs, enhancing rural infrastructure, and strengthening policy frameworks to support CE adoption. By addressing these areas, the transition to CE practices can lead to sustainable and resilient agricultural systems aligned with global sustainability goals
A comparison between the power efficiency of the Friedman two-way analysis of variance and the F-test
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Studying note for note: explanatory analysis of listening to music to cope with academic stress for Secondary High School
No full textThe research explored the various aspects of music listening and academic stress that Grade 10 and Grade 12 students of the University of the Philippines Rural High School experience. By conducting surveys and in-depth interviews, the researchers analyzed the patterns and themes among the responses of the research\u27s participants to determine the connection between music, academic performance, and finally, academic stress. Based on the results of the study, the perceived academic stress of high school students came not only from doing their school\u27s requirements, but also from external factors such as pressure from parents, peers, and teachers and changes in their environment and learning place. Additionally, the results garnered pointed out that the lyrical content and musi cal aspect of music were what helped the students cope with their academic stress. In accordance with the goal of the in-depth interviews, even the preferences of these high school students with their listening experiences and personal learning styles were taken into account. At the end of the research, it was concluded that the participants see themselves as students and people who would use music as a means to cope with academic stress in their future academic endeavors, which resulted in the eventual fulfillment of the objectives of the study. Combining and analyzing the resul ts further revealed that music is a flexible yet effective means of coping with academic stress. which resulted in the eventual success of the research
Why play and buy? : an exploratory research on the motivators of in-app purchases on UPRHS Senior High School students
No full textDuring the pandemic, plenty of people were stuck in their homes which led to a surge of people having gaming as their go to when it comes to entertainment and most popular types of oames tend to have a freemium model when it comes to its monetization. With that said, the purpose of this study is to identify the motivations when it comes to buying in online games, specifically Senior High School Ruralites. We also aim to evaluate the purchasing behavior of SHS Ruralites as well as to compare the motivations between those who buy and don\u27t buy in online gaming. In order to collect this data, we performed a survey as well as data sampled with the use of Random Sampling in order to get a good sample of the population, where we got 119 participants. We asked the participants questions regarding their purchase behavior as well as used a 4 point Likert scale in order to identify the motivation through the use of the Theory of Functional Value. From the survey, we found that 52 participants play but do not buy, 46 participants play and buy, and 11 participants do not play and buy. For those who play and buy, finance is a factor that comes into play when deciding to buy an in-app purchase compared to those who don\u27t buy and play. For the motivations of buy and don\u27t buy players, both value the aesthetic value overall compared to the other values, meaning purchases that provide more customization and cosmetic options are what is more sought after for both players. Comparing the motivations of both players who buy and don\u27t buy using statistical tests such as the Welch\u27s T-Test and the Mann Whitney U Test, a significant difference were found in the Social Value and the Emotional Value indícating that players who buy in-app purchases have a higher tendency of buying ín-app purchases that have high values of these motivations compared to that of the players who don\u27t buy. We recommend a more quantitative study in order to find more meaningful connections behind these motivations, and include other factors found in games such as monthly subscriptíons, as well as the topic regarding game addiction. The research paper may be used in order to facilitate other studies of this area especially those with similar populations
Optimizing relief truck loading using a multiple constrint knapsack model
No full textThe Philippines, ranking as the world\u27s most di saster-prone country according to the 2023 World Risk Index, faces significant challenges in disaster risk management, particularly in relief operations. Past relief operations have been hindered by issues such as oversupply, undersupply, and logistical inefficiencies, resulting in delayed and damaged relief goods. By modeling the truck loading problem with constraints on weight and volume, the study seeks to maximize the value of delivered goods. This research optimized the loading of relief trucks using a multiple constraint knapsack model, employing both greedy and genetic algorithms to enhance the efficiency of relief distributi on. In this study, the researchers devel oped an algorithm that ensures efficient delivery of essential relief items, minimizes costs, and improves decision-making in relief operations. The researchers found out that the genetic algorithm found a solution that contained more varied item combinations, while the greedy algorithm found a higher fitness value within a lower execution time. For future studies that want to use this study as a reference. the researchers recommend adding item variety to the objective function to get a more realistic solution. The expected outcome is a coding project for the SPARK11 program, demonstrating a practical application of optimization algorithms to improve disaster response efforts
From idolization to isolation : navigating the stages of cancel culture in k-pop fandoms
No full textDespite being known for undying support for idols and fostering strong interactions between fans, K-pop fandoms also encourage toxic online communication that leads to the victimization of many individuals through cancel culture. Although cancel culture has long been prevalent, especially among celebrities, there is limited research focusing on noncel ebrity experiences. This study aims to address this gap by exploring the cancellation experiences of legal-aged noncelebrity members of a K-pop fandom through one-on-one Zoom interviews. Using thematic analysis, the research examines various aspects of cancel culture, highlighting the internal and external stages victims endure, and analyzing its impact on them. Furthermore, the study delves into the online disinhibition effect to understand the perspective of those who instigate cancel culture, revealing that increased anonymity often correlates with a higher likelihood of engaging in online hate speech. Cancel culture is depicted as a recursive cycle, where victims may repeatedly undergo internal and external experiences, even using avoidance as a coping mechanism. Additionally, the stress of cancel culture is significant, affecting victims even if they have not engaged in problematic behavior. Lastly, while some may see a silver lining, cancel culture is predominantly perceived as a negative phenomenon by those who experienced it
Export promotional aspects of selected plantation crops: a study on comparative advantage
No full textBaseline Characterization of Semen from Philippine Native Chickens: Banaba, Joloano and Paraoakan
No full textThe study aimed to characterize and establish baseline data on the quantity and quality of fresh avian semen utilizing a sample of Philippine native roosters. Twenty-two heads each were acquired from breeds Banaba, Joloano, and Paraoakan. The baseline data analysis revealed significant variations in semen volume among different genetic groups, with Banaba displaying the highest volume, followed by Joloano and Paraoakan. Banaba also exhibited the highest semen pH value of 7.27 when compared to the other two genetic groups (P \u3c 0.05). Across various genetic groups of native chickens, the majority of semen samples demonstrated a thick and creamy consistency and color (42.6%), followed by thin and creamy (32.9%), with a statistical significance of P \u3c 0.05. Furthermore, variations in sperm concentration were observed among genetic groups, with Paraoakan having the highest sperm concentration, followed by Banaba and Joloano (P \u3c 0.05). When the semen from Banaba and Joloano native roosters were extended in Ringer’s solution, it exhibited good motility, with more than 50% of spermatozoa in motion, even after six hours of extension. In contrast, the pooled extended semen from Paraoakan native roosters displayed poor motility, particularly after eight hours of extension (P \u3c 0.05). The study also showed that storage temperatures did not significantly affect all the sperm quality parameters of Banaba and Joloano. However, for Paraoakan, samples stored at low temperatures of 5 – 10ºC had significantly higher percent motile and progressive sperm, and lower percent static sperm than those stored at room temperature (22 – 25ºC) (P \u3c 0.05)
Profitability Analysis of Gamefowl Breeding in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, December 2022-2023
No full textThis study analyzed the profitability of gamefowl breeding in Sto. Tomas, Batangas. It aimed to characterize the gamefowl farms and farm owners; describe the management practices adopted in gamefowl breeding; determine the net farm income in gamefowl breeding; assess the financial attractiveness of gamefowl breeding; identify the challenges and problems in gamefowl breeding; and recommend possible solutions to the said problems and challenges. The study was supposed to completely enumerate the samples from the list obtained from the Office of the City Veterinarian, however, due to a low response rate, referral sampling was used to arrive at 40 breeder-respondents in Sto. Tomas. Furthermore, one key informant was interviewed to provide valuable insights into the gamefowl industry in Sto. Tomas. The researcher used descriptive analysis, profitability analysis, and investment analysis to evaluate the financial performance of gamefowl breeders in the study area. Profitability indicators, such as net farm income, return on operating capital, and net return per peso, revealed that large-scale farms performed better than small and medium-sized operations. The net farm incomes varied significantly among farm groups, with large farms generating significantly higher incomes per 20 heads compared to small and medium-sized farms. Moreover, return on operating capital demonstrated a similar trend, with large-scale farms yielding the highest return at 460 percent, resulting in a profit of PhP4.60 per peso of operating capital. Additionally, significant differences were observed in the net return per peso invested per 20 heads of gamefowl across different farm scales, with large-scale farms showing the most substantial return at PhP3.84. Consequently, to analyze the financial attractiveness of gamefowl breeding, indicators such as return on investment (ROI) and payback period were used. Investment analysis revealed that small-scale farms showed a high ROI of 190 percent, while medium- scale farms showed a higher ROI of 527 percent. Large-scale farms had a lower ROI of 225 percent due to higher initial investment requirements. The payback period for small- scale farms was short, with a 0.73-year duration, while medium-scale farms had a 1.55- year duration, and large-scale farms have the longest payback period at 1.70 years. The researcher sees that prioritizing preventive measures and strict vaccination protocols is crucial in effectively managing prevalent diseases in gamefowl farms. To address gaps in knowledge and vaccination practices, the City Veterinary Office should provide educational programs for breeders. Additionally, investing in security measures like cameras and fencing is recommended to combat pests. Also, the establishment of a cockpit by the municipal government could further enhance opportunities for local breeders and stimulate industry growth. Finally, future research should explore the profitability of the remaining breeding seasons in a year to provide a more comprehensive analysis