Thesis (BS Agribusiness Economics) -- University of the Philippines Mindanao, 2023

Rice is a staple food in the country that is mainly produced to sustain hunger. However, the Philippines as one of the top rice producing countries in the world needs to import rice to sustain the needs of its people. Moreover, the impacts of pandemic have interrupted the chain production causing low productivity during this time. Therefore, the government has implemented programs to sustain the needs of rice farmers to increase productivity in the country. Hybrid rice seeds as one of the emergent technologies that improve the yield of rice production to 15-20% (Tran, 1997). This study aimed to assess the factors affecting the cost efficiency of rice pandemic on the productivity and profitability of rice farms in the area. And as a result, the cost of farm inputs and services have increased the total cost of rice production, entailing that these factors negatively affect the cost efficiency of rice production, entailing that these factors negatively affect the cost efficiency of rice farmers in the locality. Moreover, variables such as farm type, access to hybrid rice seed, and farming experience affects the cost efficiency, entailing a negative impact to cost efficiency of rice farmers was the access to hybrid rice seed, and farming experience affects the cost efficiency, entailing a negative impact to cost efficiency of rice farmers was the access to hybrid rice seeds and farming experience. This means that increase in accessibility to hybrid rice seed, increases the farm inputs and so the total cost. For the recommendation of this study, the government and policy makers should create a program that encourages rice farmers to utilize hybrid rice seed in rice farming, and also provides accessibility and affordability of hybrid rice seeds to the public. Furthermore, further research and development studies should be implemented to enhance the efficiency of hybrid rice seeds