Philippine E-Journals

Socio-Economic Evaluation of Rice-Duck Farming System in Bukidnon

Rocelyn M. Barroga | N.r. Gicana | Antonio J. Barroga

Discipline: Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science

 

Abstract:

This research investigated the socio-economic aspect of rice-duck farming system and how it affected rice production in Bukidnon. Data gathered were analyzed using student's t-test and multiple regression using the Cobb Douglas production function. Majority of the respondents, who had an average age of 45.28 years were owner-operators and residing in barangay Laligan. This riceduck farming system from Japan involved raising ducks in the paddy field enclosed with a mesh net fence and was completely different from the present riceduck farming in the Philippines. It was a labor intensive production system utilizing more family and operator's labor than hired labor (60.16 vs 38.56 md/mad). The difference in labor utilization was attributed to the duck rearing activities. This farming system had reduced weeding, fertilizer application and chemical spraying totaling 13.15 man days. It had higher net return and was more economically and technically efficient than rice-monoculture farming. The return-to-Iabor for rice-duck farming was PhP424.28 against a labor rate per day of PhP150, while technical efficiency was measured by ~ of 0.3658 indicating that 36.58 % was the level of contribution of the combined inputs that affected the crop yield. The remaining 0.634 was due to other factors that may include the fertility of the soil, the farm management practices employed, the population density of ducks, etc. Seeds and labor largely influenced the crop yield. The yield from rice monoculture was higher (p<0.05) than rice-duck farming, hence disproving one of the hypotheses. However, the net income was higher (p<O.OI) for the rice-duck farming at PhP17,767 against only PhP7,625 for the rice monoculture. The benefits accruing to the farmer in adopting the technology included the added income, space utilization, waste management and environmental concern. The major problem concerning marketing of ducks and its selling price can be solved by establishment of cooperative to have a captive market.