Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 22 ISSUE 4
Written by Leomarich F. CASINILLO

This article aimed to present the role of extension agents in improving rice farmers' income in Albuera, Leyte, Philippines. It also predicts the significant factors that influence the rice farmers' income to make policies that might improve the well-being of farmers as well as their rice production. Primary data were gathered through a developed structured questionnaire as a guide for a face-to-face interview of the sample farmers. The gathered data were summarized through some descriptive statistics and constructed an inference using econometric analysis in the form of a regression model. Results depicted that the average monthly income of rice farmers in Albuera, Leyte is close to 5,047.95 (₱) (SD=2,208.20 (₱)). On average, farmers’ perception score towards extension agents’ role revealed that they are “undecided” (Mean=3.28; SD=0.85) (score of 1 to 5) in regards to satisfaction. Additionally, the econometric model showed that farmer's ownership of the rice field (p-value=0.003), educational attainment of farmers (p-value=0.001), perception of farmers to extension agents as "organizers" (p-value=0.100), and perception of farmers to extension agent as "facilitator" (p-value=0.080) are the significant predictors of their monthly income. In conclusion, farmers in Albuera need assistance in regard to their agricultural production especially knowledge about new technologies and innovation to increase their economic profit. Hence, the study recommends that the Philippine local government must initiate organizing farmers' associations and cooperatives to address farmers' constraints and lack of agricultural training. Furthermore, the agricultural sector in the country must strengthen the agricultural extension agents by giving them proper training and education to effectively aid farmers.

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