The farmers’ coping mechanisms for El Niño

Abstract

This research was conducted in four regions in Luzon, Philippines in order to gain insights and lessons into the El Niño crisis and its effects on the production systems of farmers. A total of 1095 farmers served as respondents. Results reveal that the farmers were on average 48 years old,  had finished elementary level, and had 21 years of farming experience. They grew crops and raised animals. They had inadequate capital for farm activities hence, they availed loans from different credit sources. Their major sources of information about El Niño were radio and television. Farmers did their best to cope with problems brought about by El Niño. El Niño brought various effects; there were favorable behavior manifestations like planting of forest and fruit trees by farmers and the existence of bayanihan in the barangays. On resource allocation, the farmers increased the area planted to rice, the quantity of fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides used varied, and expenses on clothing, education, house construction/repair, medical expenses and social obligations were reduced. The test of relationship of variables revealed a highly significant relationship of socio-demographic characteristics with level of awareness; highly significant and positive relationship between levels of awareness and attitude formation, and highly significant relationship between attitude and decision to allocate resources.