Factors affecting the adoption of Corn Combine Harvester among corn farmers in Tabuk, Kalinga in the Philippines

Abstract

Increasing mechanization in the corn sector is central to realizing corn sufficiency in the Philippines, as it reduces labor cost and, consequently, lowers the price of the commodity. Use of a corn combine harvester has been identified as among the machines that can help boost mechanization efforts in the sector. The study was conducted in Tabuk, Kalinga, a major corn-producing area where mechanization is gradually being introduced. However, the use of combine harvesters is resisted by several quarters, making manual harvesting the dominant practice. Hence, this study aims to examine the factors that affect the adoption of corn combine harvester among corn farmers in Tabuk. Among the significant factors influencing CCH adoption were farm size, membership in organizations, and access to CCH. On the other hand, barriers to adoption include perceptions and attitudes regarding the externalities of CCH, such as the effect of labor displacement. Addressing these externalities could mean a more sustainable adoption of this machine.