Perceptions in the use of vermicompost as fertilizer among rice farmers in Barangay Cabano, San Lorenzo, Guimaras

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the perceptions in the use of vermicompost as fertilizer among rice farmers at Barangay Cabano, San Lorenzo, Province of Guimaras. Specifically, the study intended to 1) describe the personal profile of the rice farmers in terms of age, sex, and highest educational attainment; and the farmers’ farming profile in terms of the total farm area, area used for rice farming, number of cropping per year, fertilizer used, and rice production in the last cropping; 2) determine the farmers’ perceptions in the use of vermicompost as fertilizer in rice farming; and, 3) determine if there are significant differences in the farmers’ perceptions in the use of vermicompost as fertilizer in rice farming according to their personal and farm profile. This study gathered data from 135 randomly selected rice farmers in Barangay Cabano, San Lorenzo, Guimaras to achieve the above objectives with the use of a validated and pretested interview schedule/instrument. Appropriate statistical tools like the frequency count, percentage, mean, t-test and ANOVA were used to answer the objectives of the study. Results revealed that the rice farmers in Barangay Cabano, San Lorenzo, Guimaras were males, 41-50 years old, and have elementary level of education. They have farms with an area of 1 ha and below, with the same area devoted for rice farming, with 2 cropping per year, irrigated, used organic fertilizer, and with a production of more than 50 cavans. They have a positive to highly positive perception in the use of vermicompost as fertilizer in rice farming. There are significant differences in the perceptions of the rice farmers in the use of vermicompost in rice farming according to their sex, educational attainment, fertilizer used, and rice production.