SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF PHILIPPINE MALLARD DUCK PRODUCTION IN NUEVA ECIJA, PHILIPPINES

Abstract

Two hundred respondents were interviewed using structured questionnaires to determine the socio-economic impacts of rearing ducks in their community. The average age of the respondents is 36 and most of them were females and married and the average distance of the respondents’ houses to nearby duck farms is 32.9 meters. The majority of the respondents (97%) agreed that there are positive social impacts of duck farms in their community. Among those identified positive social impacts were good relationships with their neighbors, duck products as a source of nutrition and provision of livelihood or employment in their community. Consequently, most of the respondents (71.5%) disagreed that there is a negative social impact of the duck farms in the area. Meanwhile, the majority of the respondents (92.5%) acknowledged the positive economic impacts of the duck farms in their community such as the affordable duck products provided by the duck raisers. Hence, the majority of the respondents (71%) strongly disagreed that the duck farms have a negative economic impact on their neighborhood. Further assessment of the environmental, health, political as well as cultural impacts of Philippine mallard duck production should be done especially in top-producing provinces. These assessment impacts could be utilized in developing a standardized management system that could possibly avert the potential harm of duck production in the communities.