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Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) - Call for papers!

The Educational Effect of Agrarian Reform on Operation Land Transfer Farmer-Beneficiaries in Nueva Ecija.

(Philippines), Doctor of Philosophy (University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Dissertation Abstract:

 

The study was conducted to determine the educational effects of agrarian reform on the farmer-beneficiaries with regard to certain farming practices, participation in community development programs and social factors; the farmers’ perceptions of the implementation of major component programs of agrarian reform; and the relationship between educational effects and personal characteristics of the beneficiaries.

                Data were gathered through personal interviews of 200 farmer-beneficiaries in the municipalities of Lupao, Munoz, and Talavera, Nueva Ecija. Means, percentages, ranges, standard deviations, chi-square test and zero order correlation were used in analyzing the data.

                The study revealed that the respondents had an average age of 45.50 years, had resided in their barrios for an average of 30.87 years and had been farming for 24.66 years. Average household size was 6.8 while the mean educational attainment was 6.6 years. Average farm size was 2.5 hectares.

                Seminars and demonstrations were the most frequent educational activities to which the respondents had been exposed. The educational effects on farm management practices after land transfer were manifested in the use of high-yielding rice varieties and farm machinery in land preparation. Agrarian reform education had significant effects on farming methods, particularly seedbed preparation, use of fertilizer and seed treatment before sowing, use of chemicals for control of pests and diseases, and improved irrigation and drainage. There was also a marked increase in the use of bank loans for farming operations in lieu of the former lanlords’ credit support.

                As entrepreneurs of their own farms, the beneficiaries exhibited more self-confidence, responsiveness to innovative farming methods, optimism for increased income and better standards of living and reliance in judicious planning of farming activities to obtain more rewards for their efforts. Hence, they aspired for increased productivity so as to provide their homes which conveniences, enjoy good health and peaceful progressive life, and provide better education for their children in order to increase their chances of getting better paying jobs.

                The farmer-beneficiaries perceived the physical development program as the least implemented, institutional development as fairly implemented and training as the most implemented program of agrarian reform.

                Statistical analysis showed that: (1) age, household size and average gross income before and after land transfer were highly and related to improved farm management practices; (2) average gross income after land transfer was also significantly associated with improved farm operations and harvesting and postharvest practices; (3) educational attainment was significantly related to the farmers’ status as land transfer beneficiaries, length of farming experience and farm size; and (4) average income before land transfer was significantly associated with length of residence in the barrio,