DOING AWAY WITH RICE IMPORTS: DETERMINING THE CONSUMER PREFERENCE AND POTENTIAL DEMAND FOR RICE-CORN BLEND IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION, PHILIPPINES

Padrid, J.C.,Delos Reyes, J.A.,Quicoy, C.B.,Bathan, B.M.,Lucero, B.A.G.,Tabernilla, M.E.P. 한국무역학회 2019 한국무역학회 국제학술대회 Vol.2019 No.08

Even without much attention given by the government, white corn still thrives today and continues to act as a buffer staple during critical periods of inadequate rice production. The increasing importance of white corn is seen because unlike yellow corn, even if not marketed, white corn can still be kept for home consumption. The role of white corn an still be traced to the efforts of the government towards improving food security in the country. The Department of Agriculture (DA), together with the National Food Authority (NFA) and the Philippine Maize Federation, Inc. (PhilMaize) launched the rice-corn blend in December 2017. The blend comes in three variants: the 80:20, with 80% rice and 20% white corn grits; 70:30, and 50:50. With the amount of money being allotted by the DA for a massive campaign for production and marketing of rice-corn blend, it thus becomes imperative that courses of action to this effect should be borne out of empirical studies, hence this research which determined the consumer preference and potential demand for rice-corn blend in the NCR. The study employed stratified random sampling to come up with 460 end-consumer-respondents, 160 of whom were from Malabon (35%), 148 from Quezon City (32%), and 152 from San Juan City (33%). Descriptive analysis, product testing, and Fisher’s exact test were performed. Results revealed that introducing the rice-corn blend in the markets of the National Capital Region will be a challenge. Respondents who were not willing to consume the product reported that it will be hard to introduce the blends to their children as alternative staples. The subtle starchy taste from the corn grits seem to serve as deterrent to the end-consumers. However, there are still a number of respondents who were willing to consume them because of health benefits. Highlighting this characteristic of the rice-corn blend during promotion can help improve the demand for the product. Massive information campaign can be launched by the DOH, DA, and the DepEd highlighting this can be a good starting point.

ILLEGAL TRADE OF POTATO: ITS EFFECT ON POTATO SUPPLY AND PRICE IN THE PHILIPPINES

Christine Joy B. Manalo,Julieta A. Delos Reyes,Abigail T. Lat,Jennifer C. Padrid,Tyrone Jasper I. Reodica 한국무역학회 2019 한국무역학회 국제학술대회 Vol.2019 No.08

Due to rising incomes, growing urban population, diversification of diets and lifestyle, there has been an increasing demand for potato from fast food chains and snack and convenience food industries. Meanwhile, potato production is climate- and area-specific, but demand is nationwide and even worldwide. The burgeoning population is steadily increasing the number of mouths to feed such that efforts to address food security continues to fall short of target. Food items as important as white potato should be demand-responsive so that its price will be more stable benefitting the less fortunate members of society. It therefore becomes necessary to determine how responsive is the country’s potato industry to the many goings-on inside and even outside of the country. This study is an effort to address this question by first analyzing the trends in potato production and area planted as well as the volume of imports and those that were smuggled into the country. The findings highlight the fact that the potato industry of the Philippines is still dependent on imports with increased import dependency ratio from 5% in 2014 to 14% in 2015 until 2017. In terms of prices, generally increasing but fluctuating trends in farmgate, wholesale, and retail prices of potato were noted. Wage rate and volume of smuggled potatoes were found significantly but negatively affecting both volume supplied and area planted to potatoes while technology was a significant positive determinant. It concluded that importation of potato is helping the fast food chains, snack and convenience food industries since most of the imported potatoes are processed ones. This fact however, has a negative impact to our local farmers especially when illegal trade is present and the trend in importation is increasing. For more than two decades, illegal trade of potatoes has been in existence and volumes are also alarming. The entry of U.S table-stock potatoes also compete with the local production which started in 2014 (Potato Pro, 2013). The following are therefore recommended: a) for the national government to consistently address the rampant illegal trade of agricultural commodities by strictly enforcing the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act (Republic Act 10845) b) encouraging formation of cooperatives among the growers in the top producing regions potato seed production and technology development; and c) potato farmers in Mindanao should be encouraged to utilize their potential farm area to maximize potato production.

BACKYARD NATIVE CHICKEN PRODUCTION IN QUEZON PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES: PRACTICES, PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFITABILITY

Emmanuel C. Flores,Julieta A. Delos Reyes,Bates M. Bathan,Ma. Cynthia R. Oliveros,Jennifer C. Padrid 한국무역학회 2019 한국무역학회 국제학술대회 Vol.2019 No.08

This study was conducted in Quezon Province, which not only determined the productivity and profitability of native chicken raising but focused also on the effect of the type of rearing system on its productivity and the factors affecting the presence of marketable surplus (MS) to mainstream this activity as an additional source of cash income. Results of the logistic regression revealed that the quantity of output produced, and medicines used increases the probability of having MS, but the quantity of palay, coconut and commercial feeds decreases the probability of having MS of growers and roosters. Whereas, the quantity of corn fed also decreases the probability of having MS of growers and hens. Female raisers usually have MS of these types of chicken. Meanwhile, the higher the age, the higher the probability of having a surplus of growers, while the higher the mortality rate the lower the probability of having MS of roosters. Lastly, adopting the free-range rearing system increases the probability of having MS of growers but decreases the probability of having a surplus of roosters. On the other hand, results of the stochastic production frontier revealed that there is technical inefficiency in chick and rooster production. The number of starting chicks is positively related to production of chicks, growers, hens and roosters. The quantity of palay or commercial feeds given to roosters has a positive effect on its production. Whereas, the amount of corn used for growers has also a positive relationship with its production. Amount of medicines positively affected chick production. Lastly, increasing labor used for raising hens or roosters would increase its production. The TE model for chicks and roosters revealed that adoption of freerange rearing system had higher TE, as well as with higher and positive net and adjusted net income. Provision of different support services for production was recommended.

PROFITABILITY ANALYSIS OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE SALT ENTERPRISES IN MISAMIS ORIENTAL, PHILIPPINES

Tyrone Jasper I. Reodica,Julieta A. Delos Reyes,Abigail T. Lat,Christine Joy B. Manalo,Jennifer C. Padrid 한국무역학회 2019 한국무역학회 국제학술대회 Vol.2019 No.08

The study analyzed the profitability of small and medium scale salt enterprises in Alubijid and El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental, Philippines. It identified the salt producers; determined their production practices; assessed the profitability of salt production; and identified the problems encountered by the salt producers. A total of 42 salt producers were personally interviewed using a pre-tested interview schedule. All the salt producers in the two areas were included in the study. They were producing salt through solar evaporation method. Descriptive analysis, cost and returns analysis, rate of return on investment (ROI) analysis and ANOVA were used to analyze the collected data. Results revealed that the production practices of the salt producers are mainly dictated by the flooring materials of salt beds. The salt producers in Alubijid used black polyethylene plastic and brick tiles, while those in El Salvador City used transparent polyethylene plastic. The type and volume of salt produced by the salt producers were highly dependent on the flooring materials as well as on the weather conditions which require large amount of sunlight. It was concluded that salt production is a profitable enterprise and also a good source of livelihood among the members of the lakeshore community. The salt beds with transparent polyethylene plastic as flooring material were proven to be the most profitable, however, the most labor-intensive production process. It is therefore highly recommended that the salt producers be encouraged to use the transparent polyethylene plastic as flooring material and be taught the appropriate technology for seawater filtration which will address the problem on the degraded quality of seawater. The local government unit (LGU) should take the lead in this endeavor. Also, it is suggested that a soft loan program be put up by the LGU for the purchase of flooring materials so that more members of the lakeshore community can be encouraged to engage in the salt making business.