Thesis (BS Agribusiness Economics) -- University of the Philippines Mindanao, May 2019

The Philippine sugar industry currently faces issues of production inefficiencies compared to other sugarcane producing countries and are challenged to produce sugar more efficiently and productively. Productivity and Value chain analysis are the methods that were used in the study. The study was designed to identify the factors affecting sugarcane productivity; describe the value additions of different actors in the sugarcane value chain and identify issues and opportunities in the sugarcane value chains. The study was based on data gathered from 100 sugarcane farmers, 2 contractors, 5 laborers, 1 truck driver, 2 millers/sugar traders, 1 technician, 5 retailers and 1 DA official, with a total of 117 respondents. Descriptive analysis was used to describe farmers? demographics and sugar value chain actors. Value chain analysis showed that the major actors in the sugarcane value chains in the study area are farmers, millers, traders, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers. Cobb-Douglas production function was used to identify and estimate the effects of socioeconomic factors on sugarcane productivity. Results obtained from the model indicated that among the explanatory variables, farm area, fertilizer, pesticide, total labor, and farming years, and dummy variables seminar was found to be statistically significant factors affecting sugarcane productivity. All of the significant variables were found to be positively related to the sugarcane industry. Thus, the socioeconomic and significant factors can be used by the government authorities and related actors to improve the productivity of sugarcane in M'lang, North Cotabato