Three Essays on Food Staples Sufficiency: Biophysical Assessment, Socioeconomic Analysis, and Policy Evaluation of the Rice Sector in Central Luzon, Philippines

Abstract

Ph.D. University of Hawaii at Manoa 2016.Includes bibliographical references.The Philippines launched the Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP) in 2012 with a target to increase rice staples from 15.77 million metric tons in 2010 to 22.73 million metric tons in 2016. To attain the target, the government promoted classical approaches of (1) expanding land and irrigation areas, (2) increasing productivity through cropping intensification and introduction of high yielding varieties, and (3) strengthening food system connectivity by reducing rice wastes. In support of rice expansion, this study conducted a geospatial multi-criteria assessment to estimate yield in current and potential areas with biophysical and environmental characteristics capable of supporting rice production. Cognizant of the relationship between production efficiency and achieving the target, this study carried out a stochastic production frontier analysis coupled with spatial dependence assessment. In further recognition that attaining rice self-sufficiency is subject not only to the level of biophysical expansion and efficiency enhancement but also on the ability of producers to utilize effectively all the resources or capital at its disposal, this study also examined the influence of the farmer’s individual social capital on production and adoption of sustainable practices. Results show that the Philippines has about 2.06 million hectares of land that can be allocated to rice expansion. With this potential, the target is attainable even if expansion is not maximized given that yield per hectare is set at the maximum historical yield of 3.89 metric tons. Given that average annual regional technical efficiency in Central Luzon is 0.827 and is representative of farm performance across the country, with adequate provision of agricultural water to farmers and training programs, it is possible to increase national yield above 3.89 metric tons per hectare. At this rate and with the amount of land devoted to rice in 2010, which is 4.3 million hectares, it is possible to surpass the target of 22.73 million metric tons. Findings also demonstrate the direct and indirect connection of social relations to building a farmer’s social capital stock, which in turn was determined to help enhance farm-level efficiency and productivity