Socio-economic characteristics and production cost structure of rice farmers with and without financial intervention in Remedios T. Romualdez, Agusan del Norte
Paper Details
Socio-economic characteristics and production cost structure of rice farmers with and without financial intervention in Remedios T. Romualdez, Agusan del Norte
Abstract
Rice farming plays a vital role in ensuring food security and sustaining rural livelihoods in the Philippines. However, many smallholder farmers continue to face challenges associated with limited financial resources, tenant-based farming systems, and increasing production costs. Understanding the socio-economic characteristics and production cost structure of rice farmers is essential for developing effective financial support programs and improving the sustainability of rice production. This study examined the socio-economic characteristics and production cost structure of rice farmers with and without financial intervention in Remedios T. Romualdez (RTR), Agusan del Norte. A descriptive–comparative research design was employed involving 70 rice farmers, comprising 35 beneficiaries and 35 non-beneficiaries of financial intervention programs. Data were collected through structured face-to-face interviews using a validated questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, and means, to compare socio-economic characteristics, agricultural input prices, and production costs. The findings revealed that 54.29% of the respondents were male, 58.57% were over 50 years of age, 71.43% were tenant farmers, 58.57% cultivated 1.01–1.50 ha, and 67.14% had annual household incomes below ₱40,000. Market prices of major agricultural inputs were generally similar between the two groups; however, farmers receiving financial intervention had access to crop loans and exhibited different production cost allocation patterns. Compared with non-beneficiaries, intervention farmers invested more in seeds (₱1,900.29 vs. ₱1,258.71), land rent (₱13,068.47 vs. ₱5,501.20), and family labor (₱9,066.67 vs. ₱8,286.67), while spending less on fertilizers (₱3,774.29 vs. ₱5,606.43), pesticides (₱2,127.50 vs. ₱2,535.96), and irrigation (₱278.72 vs. ₱431.43). These findings suggest that financial intervention is associated with differences in production cost allocation and resource utilization rather than changes in market input prices. Strengthening agricultural credit, input assistance, and extension services may therefore enhance resource-use efficiency and support the long-term sustainability of smallholder rice farming in Agusan del Norte.
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