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Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) - Call for papers!

Economic and personal well-being of dairy buffalo entrepreneurs in Nueva Ecija, Philippines

(Philippines), Doctor of Philosophy in Community Development (University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Dissertation Abstract:

Dairy buffalo entrepreneurship is an important livelihood strategy with great potential of providing sustainable livelihood to people particularly family entrepreneurs. Nueva Ecija, being the main area of intervention of the Philippine Carabao Center, has been well supported for its buffalo-based dairy enterprises. Empirical studies assessing the well-being of families engaged in dairying in the province, however, were not much explored, hence this study.

Data were gathered through face-to-face interview with 170 dairy buffalo entrepreneurs using a survey questionnaire. The relationships of the profiles of the dairy buffalo entrepreneurs and dairy buffalo enterprise, and personal entrepreneurial competencies with the economic and personal well-being of the respondents were determined using correlational statistics. Variables were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment, Spearman's Rho, and Point-biserial correlations.

The personal well-being index of the dairy buffalo entrepreneurs was found to be within the normative range of population, which means that they are generally experiencing a normal level of well-being. Findings further showed that while the entrepreneurs were simultaneously engaged in dairying and other sources of household income, such as non-dairy farm, off-farm and non-farm, they are satisfied with farm work and life as a whole, and even managed to enjoy various leisure activities. The Personal Entrepreneurial Competencies of dairy buffalo farmers were found to be moderate in persuasion and networking but strong in opportunity seeking, persistence, commitment to work contract, demand for quality and efficiency, risk-taking, goal setting and information seeking, systematic planning and monitoring and self-confidence.

This study recommends strategies to further enhance the economic and personal well-being of dairy buffalo entrepreneurs through dairy buffalo enterprise and ultimately improve their general well-being.