IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/vrs/enviro/v12y2024i4p15-29n1002.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Demographic patterns and socio-economic drivers of salt production in the Philippines

Author

Listed:
  • Banicod Riza Jane S.

    (Fisheries Postharvest Research and Development Division – National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Department of Agriculture, Quezon City, 1103, Philippines)

  • Montojo Ulysses M.

    (Fisheries Postharvest Research and Development Division – National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Department of Agriculture, Quezon City, 1103, Philippines)

  • Tadifa Gezelle C.

    (Fisheries Postharvest Research and Development Division – National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Department of Agriculture, Quezon City, 1103, Philippines)

  • Ramos Charlotte Ann M.

    (Fisheries Postharvest Research and Development Division – National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Department of Agriculture, Quezon City, 1103, Philippines)

  • Peralta Deserie M.

    (Fisheries Postharvest Research and Development Division – National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Department of Agriculture, Quezon City, 1103, Philippines)

Abstract

The Philippine salt industry faces multifaceted challenges which led to high dependency on imports. This study deals with demographic characteristics and socio-economic factors driving salt production. Data collection was carried-out through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Findings reveal a predominantly male workforce, with substantial family involvement, limited education, and an ageing demographic that threatens long-term sustainability. The industry is fragmented and dominated by individual, small-scale producers reliant on traditional methods, with limited collective bargaining power. While there is a wealth of experience in salt production, this does not translate into regulatory compliance and modernization. Land tenure issues, which are common among tenants, impedes long-term investments in infrastructure and technology. Salt distribution and logistics are largely influenced by the country’s archipelagic geography and regulations on non-iodized salt trade. In terms of economic returns, the cooking method exhibited highest profitability despite higher labour and cost intensity, attributed to year-round production. Solar salt production using clay tiles entails high capital investment but provides long-term returns. The use of PEP sheets offers short-term investments with lower entry barriers, making it suitable for small producers. The lack of access to formal financial institutions exacerbates producers’ plight due to the investment required for salt farm development. Strategic solutions, including comprehensive educational and training programs, enhanced regulatory support, improved access to technology and financial services, and fostering cooperative models, will attract younger generations, empower producers, and create a more resilient and competitive industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Banicod Riza Jane S. & Montojo Ulysses M. & Tadifa Gezelle C. & Ramos Charlotte Ann M. & Peralta Deserie M., 2024. "Demographic patterns and socio-economic drivers of salt production in the Philippines," Environmental & Socio-economic Studies, Sciendo, vol. 12(4), pages 15-29.
  • Handle: RePEc:vrs:enviro:v:12:y:2024:i:4:p:15-29:n:1002
    DOI: 10.2478/environ-2024-0022
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.2478/environ-2024-0022
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.2478/environ-2024-0022?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Şinasi Akdemir & Elpidio Kougnigan & Fersin Keskin & Handan Vuruş Akçaöz & İsmet Boz & İlkay Kutlar & Yann Emmanuel Sonagnon Miassi & Güsel Küsek & Metin Türker, 2021. "Aging population and agricultural sustainability issues: case of Turkey," Post-Print hal-03776653, HAL.
    2. Ana P. Sibayan, 2016. "Attracting the Youth to Agriculture," Agriculture and Development Notes, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), vol. 6, pages 1-2.
    3. James Feyrer, 2007. "Demographics and Productivity," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 89(1), pages 100-109, February.
    4. Mahlberg, Bernhard & Freund, Inga & Crespo Cuaresma, Jesús & Prskawetz, Alexia, 2013. "The age-productivity pattern: Do location and sector affiliation matter?," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 1, pages 72-82.
    5. Satish Chand & Charles Yala, 2009. "Land Tenure and Productivity: Farm-Level Evidence from Papua New Guinea," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 85(3), pages 442-453.
    6. Guancheng Guo & Qiyu Wen & Jingjuan Zhu, 2015. "The Impact of Aging Agricultural Labor Population on Farmland Output: From the Perspective of Farmer Preferences," Mathematical Problems in Engineering, Hindawi, vol. 2015, pages 1-7, October.
    7. TINE Mor, 2024. "Women and Development in Climate Change Context: Female Salt-Collectors of the Pink Lake (Senegal)," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(3), pages 718-739, March.
    8. Libor Grega & Emmanuel Kofi Ankomah & Samuel Antwi Darkwah, 2015. "Analysis of Land Tenure Systems and its Relationship with Productivity in the Agricultural Sector in Ghana," Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, Mendel University Press, vol. 63(3), pages 893-901.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hui Zhang & Jing Li & Tianshu Quan, 2023. "Strengthening or Weakening: The Impact of an Aging Rural Workforce on Agricultural Economic Resilience in China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-16, July.
    2. Ziqi Zhang & Jingyi Ding & Kuan Zhang & Xin Deng, 2025. "Impact of Aging on Farmland Abandonment: Evidence from Rural China," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-27, February.
    3. Bokwon Lee & Joowoong Park & Jae-Suk Yang, 2018. "Do older workers really reduce firm productivity?," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 29(4), pages 521-542, December.
    4. Wang, Jintao & Dong, Xinliang & Qiu, Rangjian & Lou, Boyuan & Tian, Liu & Chen, Pei & Zhang, Xuejia & Liu, Xiaojing & Sun, Hongyong, 2023. "Optimization of sowing date and irrigation schedule of maize in different cropping systems by APSIM for realizing grain mechanical harvesting in the North China Plain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    5. Mengjie Tian & Mingyong Hong & Ji Wang, 2023. "Land resources, market-oriented reform and high-quality agricultural development," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(6), pages 4165-4197, December.
    6. Ilmakunnas, Pekka & Miyakoshi, Tatsuyoshi, 2013. "What are the drivers of TFP in the Aging Economy? Aging labor and ICT capital," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 201-211.
    7. Okoampah, Sarah, 2016. "Cohort size effects on wages, working status, and work time," Ruhr Economic Papers 629, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    8. Mr. Emmanuel Momolu Pope & Prof. Wilson Opile & Dr. Lucas Ngode & Dr. Chepkoech Emmy, 2023. "Assessment of Upland Rice Production Constraints and Farmers’ Preferred Varieties in Liberia," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(2), pages 1307-1322, February.
    9. Caselli, Francesco, 2005. "Accounting for Cross-Country Income Differences," Handbook of Economic Growth, in: Philippe Aghion & Steven Durlauf (ed.), Handbook of Economic Growth, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 9, pages 679-741, Elsevier.
    10. Rainer Kotschy & David E. Bloom & Andrew J. Scott & Rainer Franz Kotschy, 2024. "On the Limits of Chronological Age," CESifo Working Paper Series 11451, CESifo.
    11. Sulekha Hembram & Sushil Kr. Haldar, 2019. "Beta, sigma and club convergence: Indian experience from 1980 to 2015," Indian Economic Review, Springer, vol. 54(2), pages 343-366, December.
    12. Ademola Obafemi Young, 2019. "Economic Growth and Demographic Dividend Nexus in Nigeria: A Vector Autoregressive (VAR) Approach," Asian Social Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 15(2), pages 1-37, February.
    13. Muysken, Joan & Ziesemer, Thomas, 2011. "Immigration and growth in an ageing economy - version 2," MERIT Working Papers 2011-037, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    14. Stephan Brunow & Georg Hirte, 2009. "The age pattern of human capital and regional productivity: A spatial econometric study on german regions," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 88(4), pages 799-823, November.
    15. Nicole Maestas & Kathleen J. Mullen & David Powell, 2023. "The Effect of Population Aging on Economic Growth, the Labor Force, and Productivity," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 15(2), pages 306-332, April.
    16. Diane Macunovich, 2012. "The role of demographics in precipitating economic downturns," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 25(3), pages 783-807, July.
    17. Gehringer, Agnieszka & Prettner, Klaus, 2019. "Longevity And Technological Change," Macroeconomic Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 23(4), pages 1471-1503, June.
    18. Ms. Izabela Karpowicz & Mrs. Nujin Suphaphiphat, 2020. "Productivity Growth and Value Chains in Four European Countries," IMF Working Papers 2020/018, International Monetary Fund.
    19. Kogel, Tomas, 2005. "Youth dependency and total factor productivity," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(1), pages 147-173, February.
    20. Ekrame Boubtane & Jean-Christophe Dumont & Christophe Rault, 2013. "Immigration and economic growth in the OECD countries 1986-2006," Post-Print halshs-00800617, HAL.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:vrs:enviro:v:12:y:2024:i:4:p:15-29:n:1002. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Peter Golla (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.sciendo.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.