Research on World Agricultural Economy

Strategic Interventions for Rice Farming: Analyzing Challenges and Opportunities in Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Rhea Malaca Villacorte

College of Management and Business Technology, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, Cabanatuan City 3100, Philippines

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36956/rwae.v7i2.2632

Received: 14 August 2025 | Revised: 15 September 2025 | Accepted: 21 October 2025 | Published Online: 24 April 2026

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Abstract

This study addresses the critical challenge of declining farm viability by investigating the chronic difficulties encountered by rice farmers in Nueva Ecija, a province vital to Philippine food security. Employing a descriptive research method, data was systematically collected via a survey instrument administered to a sample of 30 farmers selected through convenience sampling from the key municipalities of Llanera, Laur, and Guimba. The analysis utilized descriptive statistics to establish the farmer profile and quantify the socioeconomic and operational hurdles. The findings portray a demographic of aging, highly experienced farmers working small, 2–3 hectare farms with basic education. The central issue identified is severe income volatility due to seasonal differences, where profitable dry-season harvests are often negated by rainy-season losses. Operational struggles include prohibitively high input costs, often exacerbated by a lack of crucial government support like fertilizer vouchers. Other critical weaknesses encompass persistently low palay prices, the detrimental use of poor-quality seeds, limited access to essential post-harvest facilities, and restricted avenues for formal financing. These core problems are magnified by climate change, which introduces extreme weather risks that severely depress yield and overall income. The study concludes by urging a comprehensive, collaborative action plan. Key interventions must prioritize augmenting effective government aid, establishing stable price guarantees, promoting sustainable and climate-resilient farming practices, and developing vital infrastructure. Such efforts are paramount to stabilizing farmers' livelihoods and ensuring the long-term integrity of the Philippines' rice sector.

Keywords: Challenges; Climate Change; Farmers; Farmlands; Farm Inputs; Rice

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