FARMERS’ EXTENT OF AWARENESS IN RICE STRAW PROPER DISPOSAL AND UTIIZATION IN FARMING PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES

Abstract

This study was entitled Farmers’ Extent of Awareness in Rice Straw Proper Disposal and Utilization in Farming Production Activities. This study was conducted to determine the level of awareness of the farmers in rice straw proper disposal and utilization of rice straw in farming production activities. The study used descriptive research to describe the profile of the respondents, the process of rice straw disposal, awareness of the respondents on proper disposal of rice straw, and the problems encountered by the farmers in disposing and utilizing rice straw, including their recommended solutions. The respondents were chosen through random sampling. The number of respondents was determined using Slovin’s formula, a total of 255 respondents. Descriptive analysis was used to summarize, discuss, and interpret the data. Frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson’s correlation were used to analyze the data. The researcher chose the top 3 barangays that had produced the largest amount of rice in April 2016. The barangays are within Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija Province, Philippines namely: Barangay Catalanacan, Barangay Maligaya, and Barangay Villa Nati. The farmers of the Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija are highly aware of the proper disposal of rice straw. However, despite their awareness, they only moderately utilize the rice straw in farming production activities. Incorporating rice straw into the soil to use it as fertilizer for the next planting of rice is the most used strategy by the farmers to utilize the rice straw. There is a negative significant relationship between the respondents’ socio-economic profile and their awareness of proper disposal and utilization in farming production activities. Since the utilization of rice straw is laborious and requires machinery, rice straw is not fully utilized such as its use as a biofuel. The farmers need monitoring from the Department of Agriculture regarding their activities in disposing and utilizing rice straw.