Towards self-sufficiency in rice production in the Philippines : a mid-term evaluation of the grain production enhancement program in the Central Visayas Region

Author: Janette L. Ugsang

AIT Library Call Number: AIT Thesis no. HS-87-04

Year: 1987

Academic Program: Human Settlement (HS)

Type: Thesis (M. Sc.) – Asian Institute of Technology, 1996

Examination Committee: B.W.E. Wickramanayake (Chairperson); Gopal B. Thapa, Soparth Pongquan (Examination Committee Members)

Abstract: Achieving self-sufficiency in rice production is one of the top priorities of the Philippine government. Various programs were launched to boost rice production and these were successful. Self-sufficiency in rice was achieved, in fact, the country even managed to export the commodity to other countries. However, this phenomenon was not sustained for various reasons. Rice production declined with the regular occurrences of natural calamities, reduced hectarage, post-harvest losses and urbanization. With the rapid expansion of the population, the government was prompted to import rice in order to feed its growing population. With the re-emergence of rice crisis in the country, the government must take a move to solve this problem. In 1993, the Grains Production Enhancement Program (GPEP) was born. Just like any other grain programs, GPEP’s objective is to attain grain self-sufficiency. In the country, there are 34 and 17 provinces identified as Key Grain Areas (KGAs) for rice and corn, respectively. The Central Visayas Region (Region VII), on the other hand, is only identified for rice. In the region, one of the provinces involved is the province of Bohol. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the achievements of the program in the region. Emphasis is laid on the changes in farming practices, yield in rice and income levels of the farmer-beneficiaries and to what extent the increase contributed to rice sufficiency in the region. Moreover, the perceptions of the farmer-beneficiaries towards the program and the efficiency of the program implementors are likewise taken into account. Data collection was done by conducting questionnaire survey to the GPEP beneficiaries, informal discussions with the program implementors and document screening. Data analyses were done using descriptive statistics, index numbers, Chi-square, T-test, correlation and regression. Likewise, the cost and return analysis was used to test the profitability of rice farming. Results revealed that the performance of the

Scholarship Donor(s): Government of the United Kingdom

Note: A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science

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Search keywords index: Janette L. Ugsang Towards self-sufficiency in rice production in the Philippines : a mid-term evaluation of the grain production enhancement program in the Central Visayas Region Human Settlement (HS) Rice — Planting — Philippines — Central Visayas Region