Rice Tariffication Law through the Lens of the Farmers: A Case in the Municipality of Carmen

Abstract

The purpose of the Rice Tariffication Law implementation is to help consumers with rising prices of rice and supporting local farmers. In particular, this research looks on how farmers in the Municipality of Carmen, Davao del Norte perceive and react to the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law. The qualitative research method was applied in this study. Furthermore, data collection took place in Barangay Ising, Carmen Municipality, Davao del Norte, Philippines. This study employed Snowball sampling was used in this study, which included seven (7) rice farmers in the area who have been cultivating for more than five (5) years. For data collection, the researchers created an interview guide questionnaire. The findings highlighted eleven (11) emerging major themes gleaned from farmers' perspectives on the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law. The following are the emergent themes generated from the acquired data: 1) Provision of Seeds and Fertilizers, 2) Seminars and Training for Farmers, 3) Calamity Insurance 4) Imbalanced Price Level of Harvested Rice and Farm Inputs, 5) Bureaucratic Red Tape, 6) Conflict Against Imported Rice, 7) Farm Plan, 8) Farm Budgeting, 9) Autarky, 10) Farmer's Outcry to the Government, and 11) Farmer's Perspectives on the Effects of the RTL to the Consumers. The outcomes assist the community and government in comprehending underlying implications of the Rice Tariffication Law on the farmers.