AN ANALYSIS OF THE PERSONAL ENTREPRENEURIAL COMPETENCIES (PECS) OF DAIRY BUFFALO FARMERS IN SAN AGUSTIN, ISABELA, PHILIPPINES

Abstract

This research, employing the Personal Entrepreneurial Competency (PEC) framework, sought to identify the entrepreneurial competencies of 137 dairy buffalo farmers in San Agustin, Isabela, the Crossbred Carabao Capital of the Philippines. The study also investigated whether the PECs of dairy buffalo farmers vary based on their group (e.g., cooperative and association) memberships. Understanding the PECs of the farmers is crucial as it informs targeted efforts to enhance specific skills and aids in designing effective interventions to bolster the crossbred dairy buffalo farming industry in the Philippines. The study revealed that the dairy buffalo farmers demonstrated one strong PEC, six moderate PECs, and three weak PECs. Competency and goal setting emerged as the highest-scoring PEC and the sole strength of the San Agustin dairy buffalo farmers. Conversely, the farmers showed weak competencies in taking calculated risks, maintaining high standards for quality and efficiency, and demonstrating persuasion and networking. The Mann-Whitney U Test further indicated that 4 PECs of group members’ farmers significantly differ from group non-members. The results underscore the potential for enhancing PEC scores of dairy buffalo raisers through membership in dairy farmers’ cooperatives and associations, thereby offering practical insights for the industry.