BIBLIOGRAPHY WACLIN, MAY ANN SABLEY I....
BIBLIOGRAPHY

WACLIN, MAY ANN SABLEY I. APRIL 2013. Role of Children on Vegetable
Production in Barangay Central, Buguias, Benguet. Benguet State University, La Trinidad,
Benguet.
Adviser: Jamesly T. Andres, MSc.

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted to determine the socio- demographic profile of the
respondents, main task of the children that they can do in the field, and the problems and
hazards affecting children in vegetable production.
Fifty children were chosen as respondents of the study. The data gathering was done
by using survey questionnaires and with personal interviews.
The respondents of the study were mostly females and most of them were studying
in elementary and high school levels. Most of their parents’ occupation was farming. They
lack of financial support as is the main problem of the respondents on role of children in
the field.
The respondents roles were to help their parents in the farm works where mostly
females can did the light works like weeding, planting, harvesting, cleaning the field,
fertilizer application and the males mostly did the hard works like carrying the harvested
crops, spraying, irrigating, hauling of harvest and hilling up.
The problems identified were exposure to toxic chemicals, heavy work in the field
that caused health problems like body pain, head ache, dizziness and back pain. These were
Role of Children on Vegetable Production in Barangay Central, Buguias, Benguet |
WACLIN, MAY ANN SABLEY I. APRIL 2013

the reasons affecting children’s performance in their studies that resultedto failing grades,
absences, lack of concentration in school and end up to school drop outs. The respondents
need to be trained in vegetable production to gain additional knowledge and experience to
have skills in farming.























Role of Children on Vegetable Production in Barangay Central, Buguias, Benguet |
WACLIN, MAY ANN SABLEY I. APRIL 2013

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Socio-economic Profile of the Respondents

Table 1 presents the socio-economic profile of the respondents, which include the
age, sex, and educational attainment, number of siblings, parents’ occupation, area
cultivated, and the crops planted.

Age. Out of the fifty respondents, 42%, were within the bracket of 13 to 15 years
old; 24% from 16 to 18 years old; 16% were within the bracket of 10 to 12 years old and
10% from 8 to 9 years old. The youngest among the respondents was 8 years old and the
oldest was 18 years old.

Sex. Majority of the respondents, 64% were females and 36% were males. This
shows that there were more females than males who were involved in the study.

Educational Attainment. Forty two (42%), were in high school; 28%, of the
respondents were elementary; 18%, were high school graduate and 12%, elementary
graduate. Results shows that the respondents were mostly studying but there were 30% of
them which were out of school youths. They finished elementary and high school and did
not continue to study in high school and college. Results showed that there were more
children who were studying than those who were not attending in school.

Number of siblings. Out of the 50 respondents, 48%, were 5 to 6 siblings in the
family; 34%, have 7 to 8 siblings in the family; 10%, claimed that they have 3 to 4 siblings
in the family and 8% were in 9 to 10 siblings in the family. This shows that the respondents
have big families and this is the reason why they need financial support. This implies that
Role of Children on Vegetable Production in Barangay Central, Buguias, Benguet |
WACLIN, MAY ANN SABLEY I. APRIL 2013

large families affect the income distributions thus families to do more work in the farm to
sustain family needs.

Parents Occupation. From the multiple responses result shows that most of the
respondents parents’ occupation were farming with 100%; 12% of the respondents claimed
that their mothers were government employees and doing farm work also 8%, labourer;
6%, driving; 4%, carpentry and 6% OFW. This implies that farming was the main source
of the respondent’s parents but some of them have other jobs aside from farming.

Area cultivated. Majority of the respondents’ parents; 30% had an area cultivated
of 2500m2; 30%, had an area cultivated of 5000m2; 24%, with an area cultivated of
10,000m2; 8%, had an area cultivated of 7500m2 and 8%, of the respondents’ parents’ had
an area cultivated of 1000m2. This shows that most of the respondents were cultivated an
area ranges from 2500 to 5000m2. As the data imply that the highest area cultivated to
vegetable farming is 10,000m2 and the lowest is 1000m2.

Crops cultivated. Most of the respondents parents were 80%, planted onions; 72%,
planted carrots; 64%, planted cabbages; 30%, of the respondents’ parents’ planted
potatoes; 26%, planted Chinese cabbage; 10%, planted sugar beets and celery and 2%,
planted broccoli and cauliflower. The data show that in Barangay Central, Buguias,
Benguet were most of them planted onions, carrots, potatoes and cabbages.










Role of Children on Vegetable Production in Barangay Central, Buguias, Benguet |
WACLIN, MAY ANN SABLEY I. APRIL 2013

Table 1. The socio-economic profile of the respondents

INFORMATION


FREQUENCY

PERCENTAGE

Age
8-9




5



10
10-12




10



20
13-15




22



44
16-18




13



24
TOTAL




50



100
Sex
Female




32



64
Male




18



36
TOTAL




50



100
Educational Attainment
Elementary



14



28
Elementary Graduate


9



18
High School



21



42
High school Graduate


6



12
TOTAL




50



100
Number of Siblings
2-4




5



10
5-6




24



48
7-8




17



34
9-10




4



8
TOTAL




50



100
Role of Children on Vegetable Production in Barangay Central, Buguias, Benguet |
WACLIN, MAY ANN SABLEY I. APRIL 2013

Table 1 continued…

INFORMATION


FREQUENCY

PERCENTAGE
Parents Occupation
Farming



50



100
Labourer



4



8
Driving




3



6
Carpentry



2



4
Government Employee

6



12
Overseas Filipino workers

3



6
*Multiple Responses
Area Cultivated (m2)
1000m2




5



10
2,500m2



15



30
5,000m2



15



30
7,5000m2



6



12
10,000m2



9



18
TOTAL




50



100
Crops Planted
Potato




15

`

30
Carrots




36



72
Cabbage



32



64
Chinese cabbage


13



26
Onions




40



80
Lettuce




2



4
Broccoli



1



2
Cauliflower



1



2
Sugar Beets



4



8
Celery




5



10

Note: Multiple Responses
Role of Children on Vegetable Production in Barangay Central, Buguias, Benguet |
WACLIN, MAY ANN SABLEY I. APRIL 2013

Activities can you perform in the farm. Majority of the respondents were 78%, of
who performed planting; 74%, helped in weeding; 72%, helped in harvesting; 66%, helped
in fertilizer application; 50%, hauled of harvested crops and hilling up; 40%, in cleaning
the field; 32% in irrigating; 30%, in carrying harvested crops; and 10% helped in spraying.
This data show that most of the respondents can do the work in the field but for the females
they were exempted in spraying the plants, carrying the harvested crops and irrigating. The
tasks of the females in the field were weeding, planting, harvesting, cleaning the fields,
fertilizer application, and for the males can mostly do hard works like carrying the
harvested crops, spraying, irrigating, hauling of harvested crops and hilling up.
According to Palome, (2005), children are also compelled to work from an early
age because of the centuries old tradition that the child must work through solidarity with
the family group, so as to compensate as much as possible for the economic burden that
he/she represents and to share in the maintenance of his/her family, which is usually a very
large one reasons.
Reasons for helping in the farm. All of the respondents claimed that they helped
their parents in the farm. There were 78%, of the respondents stated that the reasons why
they are helping their parents in the farm were for the sake of surviving; 60%, claimed lack
18
of labour; 26%, mentioned to help augment family income for their survival, 32% were to
save money for their future, and 10%, were mentioned it’s their own decision. The data
show that most of the respondents had lack of financial support and that was the reason for
dropping from school.

Awareness of parents in the field work. All of the respondents (94%) their parents
were fully aware of the activities of the respondents in the field and 6% mentioned that
Role of Children on Vegetable Production in Barangay Central, Buguias, Benguet |
WACLIN, MAY ANN SABLEY I. APRIL 2013

their parents were not aware because some said that they knew how to work in the farm,
so they just work on their own without the consent of their parents. This data show that
most of the respondents’ parents were aware of their children working in the farm because
they were with them while working in the field; they wanted that the children to be trained
in the farm work. Also to join with their parents in doing farm works during weekends.

Table 2a. Activities or work can they do in the farm
WORK IN THE FAR M

FREQUENCY

PERCENTAGE
Cleaning the field


40



80
Planting



39



78
Weeding




37



74
Harvesting



36



72
Fertilizer application


33



66
Hilling up



25



50
Hauling of harvested crops

25



50
Irrigating




16



32
Carrying harvested crops

15



30
Spraying




5



10
Note: Multiple responses




Role of Children on Vegetable Production in Barangay Central, Buguias, Benguet |
WACLIN, MAY ANN SABLEY I. APRIL 2013

Table 2b.Reasons of the respondents for helping their parents in the farm
REASONS



FREQUENCY

PERCENTAGE
To survive



39



78
To help augment family income
13



26
To save money for the future

16



32
Own decision



5



10
Lack of labour



30



60
Note: Multiple responses

Table 2c.Awareness of parents of the children’s activities in the farm

AWARE NESS OF THE FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE (%)
CHILDRENS ACTIVITIES
Aware 49 98
Not aware 1 2
TOTAL 50 100

Physical Problems. Majority of them (60%), experienced body pain; 34%, had head
ache; 30%, experienced fever; 14% had no physical problems; 12%, had back pain and 4%,
were stunted accordingly they claimed to carry heavy load. This results show that they
encountered health problems when they were working in the farm.
Effects to academic performance. Most of the respondents (66%) claimed that farm
labour affected their academic performance, and 34%, claimed that it does not affect their
academic performance. These results show that problems in academic performance were
Role of Children on Vegetable Production in Barangay Central, Buguias, Benguet |
WACLIN, MAY ANN SABLEY I. APRIL 2013

one of the reasons why they do not attend classes, resulted to poor grades and stop going
to school.
Hazards. Majority 52% mentioned that they were exposed to toxic chemicals; 30%
have to carry experiences of heavy load; 16% mentioned about the unsafely pathways; 6%,
claimed to no rain coats/boots and 4% were had exposure to hot temperature in the field.
This implies that the children were vulnerable to toxic chemicals and heavy loads resulted
to sickness and physical deformities.
Need for training in vegetable farming. Forty eight percent (48%) said that they
need to be trained in vegetable farming and 4% do not accept to be trained on vegetable
farming. This data show that the respondents need training on vegetable farming to prepare
them for future functions when they manage their own farm and to enhance their
knowledge in farming.


Table 3. Problems Encountered of the Respondents
INFORMATION


FREQUENCY

PERCENTAGE

Physical Problems
Head ache



17



34
Back pain



6



12
Dizziness



10



20
Fever




5



10
Stunted




2



4
Body pain



30



60
None




7



14

Note: Multiple Responses
Role of Children on Vegetable Production in Barangay Central, Buguias, Benguet |
WACLIN, MAY ANN SABLEY I. APRIL 2013

Table 3 continued…
INFORMATION


FREQUENCY

PERCENTAGE

Effect on academic performance
Affect their studies


33



66
Do not affect their studies

17



34
TOTAL




50



100
Hazards Encountered
Heavy Loads



15



30
Toxic chemicals


46



42
Unsafely Pathways


8



16
No rain coats and boots

3



6
Hot temperature


2



4
Note: Multiple Responses
Necessary to be trained

Willing to be trained


48



96
Trained



2



4
TOTAL




50



100







Role of Children on Vegetable Production in Barangay Central, Buguias, Benguet |
WACLIN, MAY ANN SABLEY I. APRIL 2013

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary

Most of the respondents were females. The highest age of the respondents was 18
years old and the lowest was the 8 years old. Most of them were studying in elementary
and high school while they participate in farming activities to help their parents. Farming
is the main occupation of their parents’. Other source of income in the household includes
driving, carpentry, government employee and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). Most of
them have 5 to 6 siblings in the family. The respondents’ parents’ have an area cultivated
ranging from 2500 to 5000m2 and most of them planted onions, carrots, potatoes and
cabbages.

The respondents have their role to help their parents in the farm work. The females
can do light work like weeding, planting, harvesting, cleaning the fields and fertilizer
application. The males can do hard work like carrying the harvested crops, spraying,
irrigating, hauling of harvest and hilling up. Female had more job than males in the farm.

But most males can do hard work while females can do light work.

The common problems encountered by the respondents were exposure to toxic
chemicals, heavy work in the field that cause health problems like body pain, head ache,
dizziness, and back pain. These might be the reason for the children not to continue their
studies because some says that they are absent and experience failing grades in school.
Other says that they cannot concentrate in their studies.
Role of Children on Vegetable Production in Barangay Central, Buguias, Benguet |
WACLIN, MAY ANN SABLEY I. APRIL 2013



According to the respondents they need to be trained more in vegetable production,
to gain additional knowledge and experience on vegetable production. To prepare them for
their future they know how to sustain their vegetable farm.

Conclusions

Based in the findings of the study the following conclusions were made:
1. The children in Barangay Central, Buguias, Benguet are mostly females and they
were mostly studying in Elementary and high school level. Respondents’ parents’
occupation was farming. Most of them belong to large families with 5 to 6 numbers of
siblings;
2. The respondents’ roles were to help their parents in the farm labour. Females can
do light work like weeding, planting, harvesting, cleaning the fields and fertilizer
application. The boys can do hard work like carrying the harvested crops, spraying,
irrigating, hauling of harvest and hilling up. Female were responsible for light job while
males can do hard work;
3. Common problems encountered by the respondents were physical problems such
as exposure to toxic chemicals and heavy work that resulted to health problems. Farm
labour affects their studies that result to absences and failing grades; and,
4. Children need to be trained in vegetable production to gain knowledge,
experience and skills in farming.



Role of Children on Vegetable Production in Barangay Central, Buguias, Benguet |
WACLIN, MAY ANN SABLEY I. APRIL 2013


Recommendations

Based on the results of study, the following recommendations were made:
1. Children should be assisted by parents while they help them to do work in the
farm;
2. The parents should be aware of the toxic chemicals that children should not be
exposed to harmful chemicals;
3. Parents should encourage their children to value education while they give them
chance to help them in the farm; and,
4. Practical farm experiences should be part of their early training to improve their
skills in vegetable production.











Role of Children on Vegetable Production in Barangay Central, Buguias, Benguet |
WACLIN, MAY ANN SABLEY I. APRIL 2013



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Role of Children on Vegetable Production in Barangay Central, Buguias, Benguet |
WACLIN, MAY ANN SABLEY I. APRIL 2013