00000ntmaa22000002i 4500 UP-8027390931312009500 Buklod 20260212141430.0 m|||||o||d|||||||| cr ||||||||||| 260212s2025 xx a b ||| u eng UPVT-00020035111 UPTC rda eng LG 993.5 2025 M3 A58 Antido, Rhea Eladia Mae A. author. Impact assessment of agricultural technologies and innovations under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Program in Leyte enhancing sustainable and efficient farming operation practices Rhea Eladia Mae A. Antido, Khristine Grace C. Cadiente, Patricia Kyla Q. Caspe, Arthur John Z. Dadale, Recy Luangco ; Flordeliz B. Dacuyan, adviser. Tacloban City Division of Management, University of the Philippines Tacloban College 2025. 428 leaves illustrations, some color 29 cm. text rdacontent unmediated rdacontent volume rdacarrier Undergraduate thesis (Bachelor of Science in Management) -- University of the Philippines, Tacloban. Includes bibliographical references. The research proposal can be made available to the public-YES. The research proposal can be accessed only after consultation with the authors and the research adviser-NO. The research proposal can be accessed only by those bound by confidentiality agreement-NO. Rice remains a cornerstone of food security and economic stability in the Philippines. Rice contributes approximately 20% to the Gross Value Added (GVA) in Philippine agriculture and provides employment to around 2.5 million households, including farmers and workers in post-harvest activities (FAO, 2024). However, rice farming faces persistent challenges and remains underexplored in terms of operational impacts. In response, the government introduced initiatives such as the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) to promote sustainable and efficient farming through the adoption of advanced agricultural technologies and innovations. These interventions aim to reduce production costs, enhance farmers' profitability, and stimulate regional economic development by fostering job creation and community resilience (Grabowski & Self, 2006). While prior studies have primarily concentrated on yield improvements and farmers' awareness, the direct effects of RCEF interventions on farming operations remain insufficiently studied. This research assessed the operational impacts of RCEF-supported technologies in Carigara, Leyte, using an Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Design. The qualitative phase, consisting of 18 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with implementing agencies and rice farmers association leaders, informed the development of a structured survey administered to 150 farmer-recipients. Thematic analysis revealed key areas of impact, including farming practices, cost management, productivity and yield maximization, economic growth, and labor efficiency. However, multiple linear regression analysis indicated no statistically significant relationship between RCEF interventions and farming operations, highlighting the influence of external factors such as climate variability, accessibility of training programs, and land characteristics. This is also attributed to the limited availability of technologies in the study areas and the possibility that the sample size was too small to detect significant effects. The study also identified a perceptual gap between implementing agencies and farmers regarding program impacts. Findings underscore the need for more targeted, context-specific strategies to optimize the adoption and effectiveness of agricultural technologies, offering valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders committed to advancing sustainable rice farming in the Philippines. Rice Philippines Carigara, Leyte. Agricultural innovations Philippines Carigara, Leyte. Agricultural innovations. Mechanization. RCEF program. Rice farmers. Sustainable farming operations. Technology adoptation. Cadiente, Khristine Grace C. author. Caspe, Patricia Kyla Q. author. Dadale, Arthur John Z. author. Luangco, Recy author. Dacuyan, Flordeliz B. adviser. Thesis FI UP UPTAC UPTAC LG 993.5 2025 M3 A58 Thesis