Exploring the Operations Management of Rice Farmers: A Case Study in Molave, Zamboanga Del Sur
English
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11594/ijmaber.06.09.19Keywords:
Operational Management of Rice Farmers’ Unfair Labor PracticesAbstract
This study explored the operational management of rice farmers in Molave, Zamboanga del Sur, focusing on how they finance their farms and address farming needs from cultivation to harvest. Small to medium-sized rice farmers face increasing challenges related to funding, resource access, and labor practices. Understanding their management strategies provides insights into improving agricultural sustainability. A qualitative case study approach was employed, guided by Sharan B. Merriam’s methodology. Ten experienced rice farmers aged 25 and above, each operating farm for at least two years, participated in the study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, field observations, and audio recordings. The researchers served as the primary instruments of data collection, ensuring accuracy and contextual depth through transcription and thematic analysis. Findings revealed significant financial constraints among farmers, including limited access to credit, high operational costs for equipment, labor, fertilizers, and pesticides, and a lack of effective risk management practices. Additionally, unfair labor practices in rice trading were found to negatively impact farmer income and sustainability. Based on these findings, the study recommends that local governments enhance support for farmers by investing in agricultural infrastructure, organizing farmer associations, and providing free fertilizers and pesticides.Farmers are encouraged to engage in continuous learning and strengthen peer networks to build resilience. Future research should explore the broader impact of farm operations on local economies to inform policy and innovation. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of rice farming operations and highlights the need for targeted support to improve rural livelihoods.
Downloads
References
A, N. Y. A., O, N. N. J., M, N. a. M., & S, N. I. (2021). Challenges faced by usaid markets II Rice Farmers in Niger State, Nigeria. Journal of Agripreneurship and Sustainable Development, 4(3), 121–127. https://doi.org/10.59331/jasd.v4i3.238
Abebrese, S. O., Martey, E., Dartey, P. K. A., Akromah, R., Gracen, V. E., Offei, S. K., & Danquah, E. Y. (2019). Farmers pre-ferred traits and potential for adoption of hybrid rice in Ghana. Sustainable Agri-culture Research, 8(3), 38. https://doi.org/10.5539/sar.v8n3p38
Adur-Okello, S. E., Alibu, S., Lamo, J., Ekobu, M., & Otim, M. H. (2020). Farmers’ knowledge and management of rice diseases in Uganda. Journal of Agricultur-al Science, 12(12), 221. https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v12n12p221
Apeh, C. C., Chiemela, S. N., Apeh, A. C., Okere, R. A., Ukwuaba, S. I., & Onyekuru, A. N. (2024). Analysis of adoption of soil nutri-ent management practices: a case of rice farmers in Liberia. Land Degradation and Development. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5314
Aslam, A., Ijaz, M. U., Aslam, M. T., Chattha, M. U., Khan, I., Gulzar, M. Z., Mehmood, M., & Ali, F. (2024). Monitoring and de-tection of insect pests using smart trap technologies. In Advances in environ-mental engineering and green technolo-gies book series (pp. 443–468). https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-3061-6.ch018
Aureada, C., & Dizon, R. (2024). The Impact of Rice Tariffication Law on rice farmer In-come and Occupational Choice: A Mi-crosimulation approach. International Journal of Economics, 9(3), 49–65. https://doi.org/10.47604/ijecon.2961
Aye, M. S., Nomura, H., Takahashi, Y., & Yabe, M. (2022). Profit efficiency, weather risk and climate adaptation practices of rice farmers in Myanmar. Journal of Agricul-tural Science, 14(7), 1. https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v14n7p1
Badua, A. E., Vargas, D. S., Baltazar, E. G., Aveno, J. L., & Orden, M. E. M. (2024). Adoption of mechanical seeder among rice farmers in Cagayan Valley Region, Philippines. Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 14(4), 140–146. https://doi.org/10.55493/5005.v14i4.5221
Benitez‐Altuna, F., Materia, V. C., Bijman, J., Gaitán‐Cremaschi, D., & Trienekens, J. (2023). Farmer–buyer relationships and sustainable agricultural practices in the food supply chain: The case of vegetables in Chile. Agribusiness, 40(1), 3–30. https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21829
Bunyasiri, I., Suchato, R., & Sirisupluxana, P. (2024). Adaptation of rice farmers to ag-ing in Thailand. Open Agriculture, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2022-0364
De Jesus, F., Pascual, S. S., Passion, B. J., Fran-co, C., & Mallari, M. R. (2025). Analyzing the Return-Benefit on the use of modern agricultural machinery by rice farmers in Nueva Ecija, Philippines using Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT). Research on World Agricultural Economy, 338–352. https://doi.org/10.36956/rwae.v6i1.1431
Della Bellver, F., Gras, B. F., Moletto-Lobos, I., Benavent, C. J. G., Primo, A. S. B., Rubio, C., Vermote, E., & Saunier, S. (2024). Pest
Detection in Citrus Orchards Using Senti-nel-2: A Case Study on Mealybug (Delot-tococcus aberiae) in Eastern Spain. Re-mote Sensing, 16(23), 4362. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16234362
Fatondji, B. Y., Adoukonou-Sagbadja, H., Sog-nigbe, N., Gandonou, C., & Vodouhè, R. S. (2020). Farmers’ preferences for varietal traits, their knowledge and perceptions intraditional management of drought constraints in rice cropping in Benin: Im-plications for rice breeding. Journal of Agricultural Science, 12(11), 56. https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v12n11p56
E, N. K. U., & E, N. O. I. (2024). Determinants of Borrowing Decision and Transaction Costs of Arable Crop Farmers in Abia Staate. Journal of Agripreneurship and Sustainable Development, 7(2), 35–42. https://doi.org/10.59331/jasd.v7i2.745
Horgan, F. G., Ramal, A. F., Villegas, J. M., Jamoralin, A., Pasang, J. M. V., Hadi, B. a. R., Mundaca, E. A., & Crisol-Martínez, E. (2024). Rice bund management by Filipi-no farmers and willingness to adopt eco-logical engineering for pest suppression. Agriculture, 14(8), 1329. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14081329
Hossian, M. M., Ali, M. S., Kabir, M. H., Alam, M. M., & Ahamed, K. U. (2023). Farmers’ ef-ficiency in using selected pesticides for controlling rice pests. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension Economics & Sociology, 41(4), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajaees/2023/v41i41872
Huka, H. A., Kilima, F. T., & Mchopa, A. D. (2024). Impact of high-value market par-ticipation on income, saving and assets among smallholder vegetable farmers in Arumeru District, Tanzania. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2024
Ikhwan, R., Ar-Rozi, A. M., Suryadi, M., & Asha-ri, N. (2024). Rice farmers’ participation in the use of improved technology and its impact on productivity and income. BIO Web of Conferences, 119, 03004. https://doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/202411903004
Irianto, H., Widiyanti, E., Riptanti, E. W., Khair-iyakh, R., Prasetyo, A., & Mujiyo, N. (2024). The knowledge management readiness of organic rice farmers in Ngawi Regency, East Java, Indonesia. IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmen-tal Science, 1364(1), 012023. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1364/1/012023
Islam, M. M., Rahman, M. M., Sarker, S. S., Is-lam, M. N., Bhuiyan, F. H., Khanam, M. S., & Alam, I. (2024). Beyond yield: Unveiling farmer perceptions and needs regarding weed management in Bangladesh. Fron-tiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnolo-gy, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2024.1410128
January, B., Rwegasira, G. M., & Tefera, T. (2018). Farmers’ perceptions of rice pro-duction constraints and stem borers management practices in Tanzania. Jour-nal of Agricultural Science, 10(6), 57. https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v10n6p57
K, G. G. A., Benny, H., Demirel, B., & Cevher, E. Y. (2024). Smart Agriculture application in rice cultivation. Jurnal Pertanian Tropik/Jurnal Online Pertanian Tropik, 11(2), 9–21. https://doi.org/10.32734/jopt.v11i2.17832
Kim, D., Yagi, H., & Kiminami, A. (2022). Ex-ploring information used for the success-ful implementation of farm management information system: A case study on a paddy rice farm enterprise in Japan. Smart Agricultural Technology, 3, 100119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2022.100119
Kommey, R., & Fombad, M. (2023). Strategies for knowledge sharing among rice Farm-ers: A Ghanaian perspective. Electronic Journal of Knowledge Management, 21(2), 114–129. https://doi.org/10.34190/ejkm.21.2.2803
Mekonen, B. (2024). Assessments of Challeng-es and Opportunities for practicing irri-gated rice production in Ethiopia. Re-ports, 4(4), 99–108. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.reports.20240404.11
Mićović, A. (2021). Protection of suppliers of agricultural and food products from un-fair trading practice. Ekonomika Poljoprivrede, 68(4), 1131–1145. https://doi.org/10.5937/ekopolj2104131m
Mondol, M., Sani, A., Usha, K., Marzia, S., Biswash, P., & Islam, M. (2021). Exploring rice residue management practices focus-ing on environmental pollution and soil health in six major rice growing upazilas of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh. Progressive Agriculture, 31(3), 178–189. https://doi.org/10.3329/pa.v31i3.52122
Nath, T. D., Zulfiqar, F., Tsusaka, T. W., Papong, S., Biswas, A., & Datta, A. (2024). Climate risk management in Thai rice farming: farmers’ perceptions, meteoro-logical trends, and determinants of adap-tation strategies. Earth Systems and Envi-ronment, 8(4), 1809–1828. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41748-024-00497-8
Nyounibe, P. Z., Mbebeb, F. E., & Mimba, T. D. (2024). Farm Management and the Pro-duction Efficiency of Rice Farmers in the Western Highlands of Cameroon: Evi-denced from a Tobit Analysis Approach. Asian Journal of Agricultural Exten-sion Economics & Sociology, 42(11), 20–36. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajaees/2024/v42i112588
Omar, M. M., Shitindi, M. J., Massawe, B. H. J., Fue, K. G., Pedersen, O., & Meliyo, J. L. (2022). Exploring farmers’ perception, knowledge, and management techniques of salt-affected soils to enhance rice pro-duction on small land holdings in Tanza-nia. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2022.2140470
Pinas, N. M., Van De Loosdrecht, M., Schranz, E., Van Andel, T., & Maat, H. (2024). From Field to Plate: the Chain of Oper-ation in Maroon Rice Cultivation in Suri-name and French Guiana. Research Square (Research Square). https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5438376/v1
Poungchompu, S., & Chantanop, S. (2016). Economic aspects of rice combine har-vesting service for farmers in northeast Thailand. Asian Social Science, 12(8), 201. https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v12n8p201
Prinila, A. S., Ravi, G., Anuradha, D., Preetha, G., Anandham, R., & Manjunatha, C. (2024). Farm Profile Attributes and adoption of Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) for crop management by Rice-Growing farmers in Tamil Nadu, India. Journal of Scientific Research and Reports, 30(10), 148–157. https://doi.org/10.9734/jsrr/2024/v30i102441
Saili, A. R., Zaman, N. B. K., Noor, W. N. W. M., Fatah, F. A., & Abdullah, F. A. (2024). Smart Farming: Challenges and Adoption Factors among Paddy Farmers in IADA Barat Laut, Selangor. Information Man-agement and Business Review, 16(4(S)I), 394–400. https://doi.org/10.22610/imbr.v16i4(s)i.4288
Satyarini, T. B., Fujiwara, T., & Widarti, I. (2023). Entrepreneurship Characters of farmer and rice farming performance in Bantul. E3S Web of Conferences, 444, 02043. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202344402043
Sugiman, S. B., Fadwiwati, A. Y., Bungati, N., & Raharjo, D. (2023). Farmers' response to the introduction of integrated crop man-agement technology for lowland rice in Konawe district. IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, 1230(1), 012208. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1230/1/012208
Surya, E., Hakim, L., Fitriyana, L., Armi, N., Ridhwan, M., & Tutiliana, N. (2024). Farmer behavior in the use of pesticides on rice plants. Jurnal Penelitian Pen-didikan IPA, 10(12), 10020–10028. https://doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v10i12.7778
Tolentino, F. G. R., & Magdato, F. V., Jr. (2024). Effectiveness of Tagum City Agrivolving Fund (TAF) Program for Rice Farmers in Davao del Norte, Philippines. Asian Jour-nal of Research in Agriculture and Forest-ry, 10(4), 431–451. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajraf/2024/v10i4347
Velasco, J. M. (2019). Management Practices and technical efficiency of MASIPAG rice farmers in Isabela, Philippines. European Journal of Agriculture and Food Scienc-es, 1(2). https://doi.org/10.24018/ejfood.2019.1.2.9
Vivek, S., & Bonny, B. P. (2024). Constraints affecting innovations of rice farmers in the Kole wetland system. International Journal of Agriculture Extension and So-cial Development, 7(3), 117–122. https://doi.org/10.33545/26180723.2024.v7.i3b.417
Wang, H. (2024). The impact of farmers’ bor-rowing behavior on agricultural produc-tion technical efficiency. arXiv (Cornell University). https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2411.00500
Yuliantina, N., Mulyana, A., Wildayana, E., & Lionardo, A. (2024). Economic impact of land use change on rice paddy farmers in Palembang City Indonesia. WSEAS Trans-actions on Environment and Develop-ment, 20, 546–561. https://doi.org/10.37394/232015.2024.20.53
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Jessa Gallano, Arha Mae D. Sealza, Jamby E. Basit
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See the Effect of Open Access).
