Title : Socio-demographic analysis of milkfish farming in Binmaley, Pangasinan: Challenges, stakeholder roles, and policy recommendations
Abstract:
Sociodemographic factors substantially influence milkfish producers' production methods and ability to accept new technology. The study examined milkfish producers in Binmaley, Pangasinan, Philippines, and their sociodemographic features. The frequency and percentages of 63 randomly selected milkfish farmers were surveyed. The investigation revealed milkfish farmers' age, sex, civil status, education, major and minor vocations, and years of experience.
Most milkfish producers are between 31 and 60, with the biggest share in this age group. This has affected new farming practices and technologies. Men make up 94 percent of milkfish producers, while women make up 6 percent. Women empowerment and gender equality in aquaculture are crucial. Most milkfish growers are married, showing a long-term commitment to the industry. High school graduates outnumber college graduates among milkfish growers. Many farmers lack a high school certificate or basic education, emphasizing the need for targeted educational measures to enhance farming production. Milkfish farmers are mostly caregivers, followed by fishing, 20 business, and barangay authorities. Milkfish aquaculture helps various populations and local economies. Milkfish producers with 1 to 10 years of experience outnumber those with more than 20 years. This underline the need to develop milkfish farming community cooperation and knowledge transfer from experienced farmers to newcomers.
To increase milkfish farming sustainability, it is important to study milkfish producers' sociodemographic profiles. Institutions and policymakers should develop milkfish aquaculture schemes. Future research may examine the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics, technology adoption, and farmers' social networks' diffusion of farming innovations. Milkfish aquaculture in Binmaley, Pangasinan, boosts the local economy but it faces various obstacles that threaten its long-term viability. This study examined milkfish producers' management, feeding, harvesting, and marketing issues. The snowball method selected milkfish farmers for a survey and focus groups. The topics were appraised for LGU engagement and effectiveness. The study covered milkfish farming's water management, feeding, harvesting, and problems. The study suggested prioritizing stakeholders and policy action to improve milkfish farming and assure sustainability.
Audience take-away:
- Their learnings on this topic will help them assess their community on aquaculture production and how the policymakers could intervene to improve their production.
- The faculty could also use this to emphasize the importance the socio-demographic studies.
- The result of this study will give an overview how important is to know the challenges, stakeholder roles and policy recommendations.
