Philippine E-Journals

Market Channels of Free-Range Chicken in Selected Provinces of Northern Luzon

KAE ANN MARIE P. BALINGIT

 

Abstract:

Raising free-range chicken provides livelihood, food security, income, and fulfilment of other socio-cultural obligations, especially in Northern Luzon. The research was conducted in three provinces which included Abra, Ilocos Sur, and La Union. This paper presents the market channels of various economic actors in the distribution chain of free-range chicken. Descriptive analysis was used in the study. A structured questionnaire was developed to collect needed information. The study used simple random sampling techniques, purposive sampling, and snowballing methods to identify respondents. Market channel analysis was used to determine the product flow. The 5,505 heads of free-range chicken were accounted for in Abra, of which 41.07% were directly apportioned for home consumption. Household consumption accounts for more than the demand for free-range chicken in the province. There was an accounted percentage for household consumption in Ilocos Sur, which was 57.49%. However, 14.32% were directly sold to consumers. Almost half of La Union’s free-range chicken was devoted to household consumption with a 48.80% allocation. There was 12.19% of the products sold to consumers. The free-range chicken marketing channel had various marketing channels. Still, it dominated the grower-consumer track in that the highest input value was the input provider while the highest output value was the processor.