Farm Mechanization Among Tenant Farmers in Northern Philippines: Implications to Cultural Practices, Gender Roles, Household Food Security, and Socioeconomic Status

Nueva Vizcaya is an agricultural province and could be one of the top rice producers in Region 2, Northern Philippines. The province introduced mechanized farming as part of the government’s attempt to improve food security. Most studies on farm mechanization focused on its effect on productivity; this study explored its effect on cultural practices, gender roles, household food security, and socio-economic setup amidst the mechanization of farming materials viz-a-viz tenant farmers’ lives using a qualitative design. The study found that there is low mechanization of farming in the province. Tenant farmers engage in small-scale farming that does not guarantee high profits. Gender roles were affected differently as mechanization was utilized. Traditional cultural practices such as bayanihan (mutual help) and ammuyo (free service) were lessened due to mechanization. The farmers recommended intensified government programs to promote progress in farm mechanization.