p-ISSN 2094-4454

RESEARCH ARTICLE Socio-economic Benefits and Constraints for Mussel Farming Industry in Southern

Andrew D. Ordonio, Aniceto D. Olmedo, Mac Edmund G. Gimotea, Jovelle B. Vergara, Mark Ian R. Toledo, Carlos Hilado Memorial State College College of Fisheries Enclaro, , Negros Occidental Philippines

Abstract: This study aims at understanding the socio-economic benefits accrued to mussel farmers and the constraints that hindrance the development of mussel farming in southern Negros Occidental province Philippines. Using a semi-structured open-ended one-on-one questionnaire, primary data were collected from a sample of 23 randomly selected mussel farming households in three farming areas in southern Negros Occidental province. The farmers considered mussel farming as alternative/supplemental livelihood to fishing. Currently, the investment for mussel farming is categorized as small-scale and family-based. Mussel farming helped augment family’s income. From the income they derive from mussel farming, they can now buy the basic needs of their families and they can even pay promptly their accounts from local credits. They further noted they can afford now to buy electronic gadgets and other appliances as well as spend some of their earnings for house repairs. Although, the benefits derived from mussel farming is positive, somehow, the farmers were impeded by constraints that hindrance the development of mussel farming industry. They had in mind that the lack of knowledge and Extension support probably hindrance the development of the mussel farming. If they are organized as community, they might as well can participate to any Extension activities designed for them. The lack of conflict management strategies was ranked lowest by the respondents. Such constraints must be address in a science-based policy which will focused on socio-economic empowerment. Consequently, the form of interventions should be from holistic perspectives and mussel farmers should play an important role to these undertakings.

Keywords: mussel farming, socio-economic dimensions, benefits, constraints, sustainability

INTRODUCTION

Green mussel farming offers good economic incentives for development for enhancing food and livelihood security. Green mussel farming has already been acknowledged as one of the profitable enterprises in the coastal belts in southern Negros Occidental as a subsidiary income-deriving source for rural fishing community. The mussel is familiar by its brilliant green colored shell with its meat being succulent and palatable (Gren, et al., 2009; Lancmane, 2013). Green mussels along with oysters are the most common, important, and established bivalves farmed in the country where they are traditionally cultured from natural beds in rivers and in coasts (Peralta and Andalecio, 2011). Among the mussels proliferating in the coastal areas of the tropical zone, the green mussel, Perna viridis, locally, Tahong in the Philippines, is the only species farmed commercially (Andalecio, et al., 2014; BAS, 2008).

Growing mussel contributes to local fisheries development. Mussel farming in general however, received very little economic development attention in the province of

Trident - Journal of Fisheries and Social Development (JOFSD). Volume 12, No. 1, JUNE 2020 www.tridentjournal.com Socio-economic Benefits and Constraints for Mussel Farming Industry in Southern Negros Occidental Philippines

Negros Occidental. Insufficient or absence of institutional governmental support to improve the farming technology and to optimize marketing strategies to make the industry competitive, stagnated mussel farming in the Philippines as compared to prawn and milkfish (Andalecio, et al., 2014). In southern Negros Occidental, green mussel farming is an economically important farming activity although its cultivation is not so widespread and popular. Green mussel farming is a viable economic activity as it offers low input and capitalization (Peralta and Andalecio, 2011) besides, the industry is family-based, small- scale, and with high demands in the domestic markets. With positive environmental impacts, its farming becomes a subsequent developing activity (Newell, 2004; Duarte, et al., 2008; and Salinas & Rosario, 2016). In Negros Occidental, mussel farming has been practiced several decades in the southern side of the province particularly; Hinigaran, , and Ilog.

Objectives. Although the farmers from Hinigaran, Himamaylan, and Ilog supplied much of the mussels in the province, its farming characteristics and some socially constructed knowledge of the industry remains virtually undocumented. Generally, this study aimed to fill the information gap by providing an overview of the green mussel farming industry in southern Negros Occidental and further determined the benefits and constraints the farmers perceived to hindrance the mussel farming industry in the southern side of the province. Specifically, the study described the (a) farmers’ and the farming demographics such as household profile, mussel farmer’s education, household income, culture methods, and market and marketing (b) their concordance to the socio-economic benefits and (c) their concordance to the perceived socio-economic constraints to promote or hindrance the development of mussel farming in the southern Negros Occidental province. The data gathered and analyzed for this study formed the basis to develop Extension programming recommendations for mussel farming industry in southern Negros Occidental province is forwarded in the light of the existing experiences in other places.

METHODOLOGY

Research Design and Locale of the Study. The descriptive research that utilized the semi-structured open-ended one-on-one format gathered and described the demographics, the socio-economic benefits, and socio-economic constraints the mussel farmers perceived to promote or hindrance the development of mussel farming in southern Negros Occidental. The three important mussel farming areas considered for this study were the municipalities of Hinigaran and Ilog and the city of Himamaylan. Mostly, green mussels supplied to the entire are farmed or gathered from the wild in these areas.

Sample Units. A total of 33 accessible mussel farmers and their farm assistants considering 12 from Ilog, 8 from Hinigaran, and 13 from Brgy. Su-ay, Himamaylan City were surveyed. The interview started with the identification of key informants (KIs) who listed the names of mussel farmers and farm assistants from each sample units. Snowball sampling technique was utilized – that is identifying the names from the list and relying from the referrals of one to the next mussel farmer. The willingness to cooperate and the participants’ knowledge about mussel farming was considered primarily for this survey.

Trident - Journal of Fisheries, and Social Development (JOFSD). Volume 12, No. 1 JUNE 2020 pISSN2094-445 2 www.tridentjournal.com Socio-economic Benefits and Constraints for Mussel Farming Industry in Southern Negros Occidental Philippines

Instrument. Primarily, the data from anecdotal conversations with the key informants (KIs) and from the reviewed literatures formed the basis to develop the researcher-made instrument. The Part 1 of the three-part instrument gathered the information on the farmers and farming demographics in terms of farming household profile, education, income, culture methods, and market. In this survey, the participants were asked to indicate their answers by supplying the figures on the spaces provided in every item or by putting a check (/) mark on the rest of the items. The Part 2 of the instrument gathered data on the perceived socio-economic benefits the respondents derived from mussel farming. The Part 3 gathered data on the socio-economic constraints the participants perceived to promote or hindrance the economic development of mussel farming in southern Negros Occidental province. In giving their honest opinion to the 14 items survey in Part 2 and to the 14 items survey in Part 3, the participants were asked to encircle the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 provided on the right columns of every sub-statements. In the five-point Likert-type scale, the respondent’s answer of 1 was interpreted “strongly disagree” while the 5, “strongly agree”. In the Part 3 however, the participants were asked to rank the constraints sub-items. An answer of 1 indicated primary constraints on the sub variables in the survey.

A 5- member panel composed of research faculty members of the College of Fisheries in CHMSC reviewed every item in the questionnaire. Subjecting the survey instrument to Good and Scates validation, a mean value of 4.56 suggests that the instrument was valid. After pilot testing to 10 mussel farmers in Pontevedra, Negros Occidental, the Chronbach’s Alpha test run in every sub-item in Part 2 and Part 3 yielded between 0.62 and 0.87 alpha values suggesting that the instrument was reliable.

Data analysis. The participants’ and farming demographic features were analyzed using the frequency and percentage distribution. The cost and return analysis for the mussel farming project included in the farming profile sub-scale was analyzed using the simplified ROI analysis format. To analyze the data on the benefits and constraints variables, the weighted mean was used. The range of the scale used to verbally interpret the scores were: 1.00 – 1.80, strongly disagree; 1.81 – 2.60, disagree; 2.61 – 3.40, either disagree or agree, 3.41 – 4.20, agree; and 4.21 – 5.00, strongly agree.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Farmers and Farming Demographics. For this study, the farmers and farming demographics is described in terms of household profile, mussel farmer’s education, household income, culture methods, and market and marketing.

Household Profile. A typical mussel farming household size has an average member of 4.96 – having a maximum member of 10. The farming households engaged in mussel farming for an average of 14.65 years – with a maximum household to engage in mussel farming for 10 years. Both the wives and the husbands were in their 40’s. The oldest was 67 and 69 years old for the age of the wives and the husbands, respectively. It could be gleaned that both the wives and the husbands were in their productive years. Further, the household

Trident - Journal of Fisheries, and Social Development (JOFSD). Volume 12, No. 1 JUNE 2020 pISSN2094-445 3 www.tridentjournal.com Socio-economic Benefits and Constraints for Mussel Farming Industry in Southern Negros Occidental Philippines size and the number of years in the mussel farming has implications for a more meaningful Extension programming.

Table 1. Demographics of mussel farming households in southern Negros Occidental Category Mean Minimum Maximum Household size 4.96 2 10 No. of years farming mussel 14.65 2 44 Age of wife 46.57 27 67 Age of Husband 49.13 29 69

Education. Majority of the wives of a typical mussel farming household were either elementary graduates or at least high school graduates (26.09% and 26 .09%, respectively). The husbands or the head of the family somehow had almost similar educational achievements. Only slightly higher at 26.09% who were high school graduates, the head of the family who had received high school diploma reached 21.74%. It is interesting to note, however, that 13.04% of the wives and husbands were college graduate while another 13.04% of the wives received college diploma. Surprisingly, 8.70% of the husbands reached college level and the 13.04% of them earned a degree in the tertiary level. The data analyzed for this study has implications for developing an Extension program. These groups could be empowered to lead in any Extension programs for the development of mussel farming in southern Negros Occidental province.

Table 2. Education of mussel farming households in southern Negros Occidental Wife Husband Category F % F % Elementary level 1 4.35 4 17.39 Elementary graduate 6 26.09 3 13.04 High School level 2 8.7 5 21.74 High School graduate 6 26.09 6 26.09 College level 3 13.04 2 8.7 College graduate 3 13.04 3 13.04

Household Income. Mussel farming households in the three studied locales were primary fishers (86.96%). Aside from doubling their production as mussel farmers, some of them earned additional income from oyster faming and from tending a sari-sari store as noted by the 26.09% and 8.70% of them. From the primary livelihood activitiy they were engaged in, the 30.43% of them noted a household monthly income between Php5,001 and Php15,000. Yet, another 30.43% noted a monthly income between Php15,001.00 and Php25,000.00. Somehow, while the 17.39% indicated a monthly income below Php5,000, the 21.74 indicated a monthly income to range between 25,001 and above. Surprisingly, the little more than 50% of them who indicated Php15,001 - Php25,000 monthly income bracket, doubled their earnings from the secondary livelihood activities they are engaged in.

Trident - Journal of Fisheries, and Social Development (JOFSD). Volume 12, No. 1 JUNE 2020 pISSN2094-445 4 www.tridentjournal.com Socio-economic Benefits and Constraints for Mussel Farming Industry in Southern Negros Occidental Philippines

Table 3. Household livelihood activities and monthly income Primary Secondary F % f % Livelihood activities Fishing (fishing in the municipal waters) 20 86.95 Tricycle Driver 1 4.35 Sari-sari store/eatery 2 8.70 Green mussel farming 21 100 Livestock raising 2 8.70 Oyster farming 6 26.09 Household monthly income Below 5,000 4 17.39 10 43.48 5,001.00 - 15,000.00 7 30.43 13 56.52 15,001.00 - 25,000.00 7 30.43 1 4.35 25,001.00 and above 5 21.74 0 0.00

Culture methods. Mussel culture in southern Negros Occidental was carried out by farmers using a variety of culture methods based on the prevailing hydrographical and economic conditions. Most farmers practiced hanging in permanent structure culture methods. This was done by hanging on horizontal bamboo poles at approximately 0.25 m apart. Other culture techniques practiced were hanging in raft, staking, wig-wam and bottom culture. In hanging in raft technique, the spatfall collectors are tied to a bamboo raft to facilitate easy harvest. Staking and wig-wam technique are almost similar however, in the stake method, the bamboo poles are distantly driven directly into to the bottom while the wig-wam method requires a central bamboo pole to serve as the pivot from which 8 to 10 full-length bamboo poles are made to radiate by firmly staking the butt ends into the bottom and tying the ends to the central pole in a wigwam fashion. Bottom culture is practiced after sorting smaller sizes non-marketable green mussels. The farmers noted that green mussels are broadcasted directly to the bottom and harvested upon reaching desirable marketable sizes. With the varied knowledge on the methods of mussel farming culture, the data simply suggests that the farming households are flexible for any future development in mussel farming should an enabling environment is provided through Extension program empowerment.

Table 4. Mussel farming technique practiced in southern Negros Occidental Farming method F % Hanging in raft 8 34.78 Hanging in permanent structure 17 73.91 Staking 8 34.78 Wig wam 1 4.35 Bottom culture (broadcast method) 8 34.78

Market and marketing. The minimum price per kilo was Php60.00 but when the supply is low, the price fluctuates to Php120.00 per kilogram. Local buyers who maintained a “talipapa” or small roadside huts got most of the household harvests although in some instance, the wife sort, clean, and retail the harvest in their own “talipapa”. Selling is done mostly by kilo but sometimes selling technique is done by “tumpok”. A “tumpok” is almost

Trident - Journal of Fisheries, and Social Development (JOFSD). Volume 12, No. 1 JUNE 2020 pISSN2094-445 5 www.tridentjournal.com Socio-economic Benefits and Constraints for Mussel Farming Industry in Southern Negros Occidental Philippines equivalent to 1 liter-size container and usually priced at Php20 – Php30 depending on the season and supply. Peddling the mussels around or in the nearby community was also common in the three farming locales.

Mussel spatfall collection and harvest is a whole year-round activity in southern Negros Occidental. Household farmers who started to set the spatfall collectors during the month of January can partially harvest marketable-sized mussels during the month of June – the usual practice of 6 months culture period. Four marketing channels for green mussels were practiced in the three farming areas: farmer-wholesaler-retailer-consumer; farmer- middlemen- wholesaler-retailer-consumer; farmer- retailer-consumer; and farmer-consumer. The data analyzed for this study has implications for training the farmers on market and marketing. This could be done through flexible Extension programming to be designed by the change agents example, the academic research institutions and local government units. Figure 1 presents the market pathway for green mussel practiced in southern Negros Occidental.

Figure 1. Market pathway for green mussel in southern Negros Occidental province

Perceived socio-economic benefits. The participants were asked on the social and economic benefits they derived from mussel farming. Looking at the data, it is evident that the farmers in Negros Occidental had benefitted from mussel farming system. They feel they

Trident - Journal of Fisheries, and Social Development (JOFSD). Volume 12, No. 1 JUNE 2020 pISSN2094-445 6 www.tridentjournal.com Socio-economic Benefits and Constraints for Mussel Farming Industry in Southern Negros Occidental Philippines can discuss what they are doing with other farmers. They learn to trust their household partners. They too feel that they can help their own community to be known to others and that they feel the warm acceptance and recognition of others in the community. When asked of their participation in the environmental actions, they agreed they joined in mangrove rehabilitation and coastal clean-up activities designed for them by the local governments. From the income they derived from mussel farming, they can now buy the basic needs of their families and they can even pay promptly their accounts from local credits. They further noted they can afford now to buy electronic gadgets and other appliances as well as spend some of their earnings for house repairs. Table 5 presents the socio-economic benefits from mussel farming in southern Negros Occidental province.

Perceived socio-economic constraints. On the whole, it appears that the farming households rated “highly agree” on the social constraints sub-variables identified for this study. When asked to rank the sub-variables, they had in mind that the lack of knowledge and Extension support and social networks probably hindrance the development of the mussel farming. If they are organized as community of mussel farmers, they might as well can participate to any Extension activities designed for them. The lack of conflict management strategies was ranked lowest by the respondents. This suggests that they are coherent members of the mussel farming community. Somehow, the highly agree ratings to the economic constraints implied that all the sub-variables may hindrance the development of mussel farming in their locality. When asked to rank the economic constraints, they had in mind that the lack of viable alternative livelihood primarily hindrance the development of mussel farming in southern Negros Occidental. The selling of rights for other aquaculture development is another issue that needs attention. When mussel farming areas are traded for other mariculture commodities, the sustainability of mussel industry might be jeopardized. The lower farm gate price for mussel dismayed most of them to invest during the next farming cycle. Table 6 presents the socio-economic constraints the mussel perceived to hindrance the mussel farming in southern Negros Occidental province.

Table 5. Socio-economic benefits from mussel farming in southern Negros Occidental province Benefits Mean±sd Interpretation Social Make friendly discussions with fellow mussel farmers 5.00±0.00 Highly Agree Help promote the community to be known 4.91±0.42 Highly Agree Give both the husbands and the wives personal thrust 4.87±0.34 Highly Agree Allowed the farmers to ask and share farming ideas and techniques 5.00±0.00 Highly Agree The farmers feel acceptance and recognition in the community 4.96±0.21 Highly Agree Enabled participation in mangrove rehabilitation coastal clean-up 4.39+0.08 Highly Agree Mean 4.86±0.18 Highly Agree Economic Contribute to the family’s income example, buy basic needs. 5.00±0.00 Highly Agree Freedom to pay for the needs of children in school 5.00±0.00 Highly Agree Freedom to buy appliances and electronic gadgets like cell phone 5.00±0.00 Highly Agree Allowed the farmers to pay credit and loans and can have house repairs 4.96±0.21 Highly Agree Gives the farmers recognition or as example a productive household 4.97±0.01 Highly Agree Made them realize less dependence to fishing thus, reduce fishing pressure 4.96±0.21 Highly Agree Made them realize adopt to good mussel farming practices 4.91±0.29 Highly Agree Made them realize to maintain materials for use during next farming cycle 5.00±0.00 Highly Agree Mean 4.98±0.12 Highly Agree Grand mean 4.92±0.04 Highly Agree

Trident - Journal of Fisheries, and Social Development (JOFSD). Volume 12, No. 1 JUNE 2020 pISSN2094-445 7 www.tridentjournal.com Socio-economic Benefits and Constraints for Mussel Farming Industry in Southern Negros Occidental Philippines

Table 6. Socio-economic constraints the farmers perceived to hindrance mussel farming Socio-economic constraints variables Mean+sd Interpretation Rank Social Lack extension support and social networks 4.35±1.30 Highly Agree 1.57 Lack peoples’ organization structure 3.65±1.64 Agree 2.14 Lack scientific information and training on mussel farming 3.80±1.77 Agree 3.43 Lack information, education, and communication (IEC) materials 4.48±1.04 Highly Agree 3.71 Lack conflict management strategies 4.35±1.15 Highly Agree 4.14 Mean 4.13±0.31 Highly Agree Economic Lack knowledge and capital for value-added products 4.78±0.67 Highly Agree 6.22 Selling of rights in lieu of other aquaculture development 4.64±0.71 Highly Agree 2.78 Lack technical support and capital for farming modernization 4.74±0.92 Highly Agree 3.78 Low consumer quality assurance for mussel 4.78±0.52 Highly Agree 4.78 Lack of viable alternative livelihood 4.35±0.88 Highly Agree 1.56 Lower farm gate price for mussel 5.00±0.00 Highly Agree 3.00 Deteriorated water quality hence, raises consumers’ hesitation 4.74±0.54 Highly Agree 5.89 Competition for space from other mariculture activities 4.96±0.21 Highly Agree 3.11 Changing climate patterns contribute delays in farming 4.77±0.24 Highly Agree 3.88 Mean 4.75±0.31 Highly Agree Grand mean 4.44+0.01 Highly Agree

Conclusion

Even though categorized as small-scale and family-based enterprise, mussel farming, plays an important role in the economy of the province. The farming households with both the husbands and the wives in their productive years earning a fairly good income level, could serve as catalyst to promote development of the mussel farming industry in southern Negros Occidental. Evidently, socio-economic benefits they derive from mussel farming augmented their household income. Their decision to stay with the mussel farming industry allowed greater social mobility and interactions. Nevertheless, they too are confronted with several constraints that hindrance the development of mussel farming in the identified farming areas in the province. The lack of viable alternative livelihoods and the eventual selling of farm rights in lieu of other aquaculture development are of economics in origin. The constraints on lower farm gate price for mussel could be attended to when the other economic constraints that originates from degraded environment would foremost be addressed. The lack of knowledge and technical support and training to farming modernization and value addition are the real essence of Extension programming. Perhaps, quality information to modernize the mussel farming industry and appropriate information, communication, education materials are the real reasons for this inquiry.

Recommendations

The mussel farmers had spoken on what constraints needs priority for programming by the Extension and change agents. Findings of the study suggest that a course of action involving research-based Extension programming by the change agents be put in place. Such actions must need a clear commitment incorporating mussel farming development programs towards poverty alleviation, food security, and farming sustainability. The action has to ensure that mussel farmers are mainstreamed into this agenda. The Extension programming may focus on: (a) analysis of the present status of mussel farming in southern Negros

Trident - Journal of Fisheries, and Social Development (JOFSD). Volume 12, No. 1 JUNE 2020 pISSN2094-445 8 www.tridentjournal.com Socio-economic Benefits and Constraints for Mussel Farming Industry in Southern Negros Occidental Philippines

Occidental example, farmers and farming characterization; (b) recognition of the socio- economic benefits and incentives to benefit mussel farmers and; (c) recognition of the constraints and focus on sustainable mussel farming example, farming system modernization and value addition and (d) development of a policy framework example, appropriate laws to protect mussel farming from unsustainable level and participate with the researchers in collecting information.

For the future research to be done for mussel farming industry in southern Negros Occidental, environmental quality assessment, farming techniques, off-shore farming experiments and trials, biotechnology studies, and post-harvest and product development are some recommendations needing attention. For the farmers, organizing them into peoples’ organization is basic to Extension. The local governments and funding agencies may facilitate or provide the farmers access to micro-credits on privilege terms, allocate funds, invite collaborative research to identify the needs of the industry, and design training to empower the farmers in technical and managerial capacities.

Literature Cited:

Andalecio M.N., Duncan, P.F. Peralta, E.M. Napata, R.P. & Laureta, L.V. (2014). Consumers’ behavior towards cultured oyster and mussel in , Philippines. Aquaculture, Aquarium, Conservation and Legislation. International Journal of the Bioflux Society 7(2). BAS. (2008). Bureau of Agricultural Statistics Fisheries Situationer January-December 2008. Technical Report. Glude, J.B., Steinberg, M.A., & Stevens, R.C. (1982). The feasibility of oyster and mussel farming by municipal fishermen in the Philippines. Tech. Report, Seafarming-Philippines. FAO/SCSP TCP/PHI/8907(1). Bardach, J.E., Ryther, J.H. & MxLarney, W.O. (1972). Aquacuture: The Farming and Husbandry of freshwater and marine organisms. Wiley-Inter-science, John Willy and Sons, Inc., New York. Duarte, P., Labarta, U. & Fernandez-Reiriz, J. M. (2008). Modelling local food depletion effects in mussel rafts of Galician Rias. Aquaculture 274(2-4):300-312. Gren, I.M., Lindahl, O. & Lindqvist, M. (2009). Values of Mussel Farming for Combating Eutrophication: An Application to the Baltic Sea. Ecological Engineering, 35(5):935-945. Newell R.I E. (2004). Ecosystem influence of natural and cultivated populations of suspension-feeding bivalve mollusks: a review. Journal of Shellfish Research 23(1):51-61. Ozolina, Z. (2017). Mussel farming and Its Potential in the Baltic Sea. Economic and Business, 30:40-50. Peralta, E.M. & Andalecio, M.M. (2011). Microbial Quality of Oyster (Crasostrea sp.) and Mussel (Perna viridis) in selected Growing Areas in Western Visayas, Philippines, Phil J of Nat Sci, 16(2011):1-8. Salinas A.D. & Rosario, W.R. (2016). Biology and Culture of Philippine Mussels. National Shellfish Development Program Manual No. 1. Samonte, G. (1992). Oyster and Mussel Farming in Western Visayas, Philippines. NAGA, The WorldFish Center, 15(3):46-48. Samonte-Tan, G.P. & Davies, G.C. (1998). Economic analysis of stake and rack-hanging methods of farming oysters (Crassostrea iredalei) in the Philippines. Aquaculture, 160(3-4): 239-249. Yap, W.G. (999). Rural Aquaculture in the Philippines. FAO RAP Publication 1999/20.

Trident - Journal of Fisheries, and Social Development (JOFSD). Volume 12, No. 1 JUNE 2020 pISSN2094-445 9 www.tridentjournal.com