Determinants of Credit Source Choice by Small-Scale Corn Farmers in the Philippines

초록

The corn sector in the Philippines has the potential for food security and to stimulate the rural economy. Although it has potential, 82 percent of corn farmers are small-scale farmers. There are several ways to support small-scale farmers. It is important to ensure that a formal agricultural credit service system is well established. This study focuses on the choice of credit sources when corn farmers need production capital. The selected place is the municipality of Bacnotan in La Union in the Philippines. The farm survey is designed using a structured questionnaire covering socioeconomic characteristics of households, credit access, loan utilization, repayment conditions, and other information on the physical and institutional setting. Based on the survey data, the multinomial logit model is used to determine factors affecting credit source choice. The analysis revealed that informal credit sources are predominantly used in the study area, and each choice of credit source is affected by different factors. This study suggests adjusting the policy on agricultural credit services that promotes an accessible and friendly credit environment for small corn farmers in the area. Credit policies must be sustainable in the long run; specifically, they must include a systematic policy guideline for agricultural credit.

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