The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in collaboration with the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) of the Department of Agriculture (DA), conducted the 2022 Survey on Costs and Returns (SCR) of Palay Production to serve as benchmark data needed in the annual updating of the database on costs and returns of palay production.
The 2022 SCR of Palay Production also aims to generate data on the cost structure of palay production, average use of materials and labor inputs, measures of profitability, and other socio-economic characteristics of palay farming in the country.
Data on production costs and returns were gaining more attention because of their varied uses and applications for policy analysts, national accounts compilers, farmers, and other entrepreneurs in the agriculture sector.
The 2022 SCR covered 130 palay farming sample Households (HHs) from the fourteen (14) barangays of the province.
The total samples came from barangay Nazaret in the Municipality of Buenavista with seven (7) HHs; Calaya and Salvacion in Nueva Valencia with eight (8) HHs each.
“In the Municipality of San Lorenzo, we also have ten (10) HHs each in Brgy. Aguilar, Cabano, Cabungahan, Igcawayan, and Suclaran,” Supervising Statistical Specialist, Vicente G. Geonanga said.
“Likewise, we have nine (9) in Ayangan, eight (8) in Maabay, and ten (10) each in Millan, Oracon Norte, Sabang, and Tanglad in Sibunag Municipality”, Geonanga added.
The SCR of palay production underwent three (3) operation processes. First is the Pre-Survey Operation conducted on January 23- 27, 2023, which covered Training for Trainers and Task Force.
Second is the Field Operation that started on January 30 and will end on March 20, 2023, covering survey operation, data processing, and review.
Third is the Post Survey Operation that will start on May 2-8, 2023, wherein review and finalization are to be covered.
The first round, with a reference period of January to June 2022, was conducted in July 2022, while the second round, with a reference period of July to December 2022, will be conducted from January to February 2023.
Sample farming households harvested palay during the period July to December 2022 will be interviewed by hired Statistical Researchers through Computer Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI).
“Among the data items to be collected from this undertaking includes Basic characteristics of the sample farmer, the farm, and the farmer’s household; Farm Investments; Material inputs; and Labor inputs,” Geonanga said.
“Other production costs; Production and disposition; Basic marketing and credit information; Access to support services; Problems related to production and marketing; Basic information on effects of climate change; and Recommendations and plans were among the data items collected,” he added.
The Authority for the Conduct of SCR Palay emanates from Republic Act (RA) No. 10625, also known as the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013, approved on September 12, 2013, which states that: “The PSA shall be primarily responsible for all national censuses and surveys, sectoral statistics, consolidation of the administrative recording system, and compilation of national accounts.”
The PSA Guimaras enjoins sample household heads to support the 2022 SCR of Palay Production by providing the required information to authorize PSA interviewers who will visit the sample palay-producing household heads to conduct a personal interview.
