Environment related practices of rice farmers in top three rice producing barangays of New Lucena, Iloilo

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the environment related practices of the rice farmers in the top three rice producing barangays of New Lucena, Iloilo. This study employed the one-shot survey design. A structured interview schedule was used in gathering data from 125 rice farmers of the top three rice producing barangays of New Lucena, Iloilo as respondents. All the data collected were processed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Frequency and percentage distribution and the mean were used as basis for data analysis and interpretation. The farmer respondents were generally between the age of 51-60 years old, married, Roman Catholics, with college level of education, owner of their farm, with a farm size below 2 hectares and with farming experience of 22.88 years. They were generally using good seeds, hand tractor in land preparation, and direct seeding for crop establishment. The farming practices of the farmer respondents were not environmentally sound as evidenced by the general use of inorganic herbicides, inorganic chemicals to control insects, diseases, rats, and kuhol and the burning of rice straw.