The socio economic impacts of women's participation in seaweed farming in Sabang, Sibunag, Guimaras

Abstract

This study analyzed the effects of women’s participation in seaweed farming on their socioeconomic status. Forty three seaweed farmers and thirty three non-seaweed farmers were chosen as respondents of the study. Both primary and secondary data were used. Primary data were collected through a household survey. The study used cost-return analysis to assess the profitability of seaweed farming and logistic regression to determine the factors affecting women’s decision to participate in seaweed farming. The results of the cost-return analysis show that seaweed farming is an economically profitable activity and can operate in the long run. The significant variables affecting the decision of women to participate in seaweed farming are status in the household, household income and the number of roles performed. The findings also show that seaweed farming provided women with higher income opportunity however it aggravated their multiple burdened situation. In addition the three major impacts of seaweed farming to women are generation of personal income, contribution to household income, and decreased leisure hours. It is recommended that policymakers should not just address practical gender needs but also strategic gender needs to eliminate manifestation of gender bias such as multiple burden.