Agribusiness dynamics of the onion industry in the first district of Ilocos Sur, Philippines: Evidence-based inputs for business model canvas development
Paper Details
Agribusiness dynamics of the onion industry in the first district of Ilocos Sur, Philippines: Evidence-based inputs for business model canvas development
Abstract
This study examined the agribusiness dynamics implemented by onion farmers in the First District of Ilocos Sur, Philippines, focusing on the key components of the Business Model Canvas: key partnerships, key activities, key resources, and value propositions. A descriptive–correlational research design was employed using a structured survey questionnaire. Slovin’s formula was applied to determine the sample size, resulting in 300 onion farmers selected from a population of 1,343 farmers across eleven municipalities. Results revealed that 91.3% of farmers collaborate with partners, primarily cooperatives (35%) and fellow farmers (31.1%), with purchasing farm inputs (40.3%) as the most common collaborative activity. Lack of trust between partners (25.2%) was identified as the primary constraint in maintaining partnerships. In terms of key activities, land preparation (18.8%) was identified as the most important activity and also the most time-consuming (28.1%). Tractors and farm machinery (37.5%) were the most needed resources, while high cost of farm inputs (26.1%) emerged as the major challenge in farming operations. Regarding key resources, land was identified as both the most essential (12.5%) and the most difficult resource to access (16.2%), with 73.2% of farmers relying on personal savings and investments to finance farm inputs and 60.4% acquiring machinery through personal purchase. For value propositions, high quality and freshness (30.4%) were the most important determinants of onion value, and direct consumers (38.7%) represented the primary market channel. Proper seed selection (22.4%) was the most common practice to ensure onion quality, while the high cost of farm inputs (21.7%) remained the main barrier to maintaining product quality and value. The findings highlight critical agribusiness factors affecting onion production and provide evidence-based inputs for strengthening business strategies and policy interventions in the local onion industry.
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