COPING STRATEGIES OF THE FARM LABORERS TOWARD FARM MECHANIZATION IN CENTRAL, SAN JOSE, OCCIDENTAL MINDORO

Abstract

This descriptive study was conducted to determine the coping strategies of farm laborers in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro towards farm mechanization. It was conducted at Barangay Central, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, one of the top rice producing barangays in the province. The 123 of the 215 farm laborers listed in the different Kabesilya or farmers labor group were selected using simple random sampling. The farm laborers were engaged in planting and harvesting of rice for at least three years in Central, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. The researcher used an interview schedule in gathering data. The study used descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency, and percentage. Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation was also used. Result shows that the farm laborers were in their middle aged, literate and with medium household size. The farm laborers generally “agree†that farm mechanization had affected their employment, food security level, education of children, monthly income, and agricultural production operations. The farm laborers “moderately practiced†the different coping strategies to meet the undesired effect of farm mechanization. Further, the “highly practiced†coping strategies were minimizing food expenses and seasonal migration of some household members to find odd jobs. Moreover, years spent in formal education and household size has a significant relationship on the extent of which farm laborers experience the effect of farm mechanization. Years spent in formal education have significant relationship on the coping strategies employed by farm laborers on advent of farm mechanization in the area.