50% of farmers changed crops in the last five years due to production problems

50% of farmers changed crops in the last five years due to production problems

This is evidenced in the Puerto Rican Farmer Profile Study

San Juan, Puerto Rico. August 3, 2023. The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute (Institute), presented the results of The Puerto Rican Farmer Profile Study, whose main objective was to collect information, data and statistics about farmers, their crops and incentives received by the Department of Agriculture, the federal government or the private sector. This was done as part of the Food Production and Demand Index Institute project for Puerto Rico. Among the most important aspects included in the survey are the collection of sociodemographic information, and possible barriers and challenges currently faced by farmers in Puerto Rico. In the same way, the study that can be accessed at Agriculture, under the “Farmer Profile” menu or tab, includes some comments from the farmers surveyed.

As for the Socio-Demographic Data obtained:

• 66% of the farmers who participated in the survey identified themselves as men.
• On the other hand, 34% of those who participated in the survey identified themselves as women.
• The age group most represented by the farmers who participated in the survey was 55-59 years old.

• 35% of the farmers who participated indicated that they had a baccalaureate degree.
• 27% of the farmers who participated in the survey indicated that they had an annual income between $25,000 and $49,999.

Related to the Agricultural infrastructure the following data were obtained:

• 85% of the study participants identified themselves as farmers, while 14% identified themselves as farmers and 1% as others.
• 42% of the study participants indicated that they had been in the agricultural industry for more than 10 years and 34% indicated that they had been in the agricultural industry for 1 to 6 years.
• In the farinaceous sector, the most harvested product was bananas followed by green guineos (45% and 29%, respectively).
• In the fresh fruit sector, 30% of the participants reported harvesting coffee.
• In the fresh vegetable sector, 30% of the participants indicated that they are dedicated to the harvest of vegetables.
• In the herbs and spices sector, 7% of the participants indicated that they are dedicated to the coriander harvest.
• 85% of farmers reported using cell phones for their business.
• On the other hand, 76% of farmers reported using internet service and 63% using computers for their business.
• 60% of farmers indicated that they sell or distribute their produce directly to the consumer and 30% indicated that they sell or distribute their products on other farms.
• The agricultural region with the highest participation in the survey was that of Caguas, with a participation of 20 people.
• On the other hand, the agricultural region with the lowest representation in the survey was that of San Germán, with a participation of 9 people.

About the Economic incentives and aid provided to farmers the following data were obtained:

• 74% of farmers indicated that they had not received financial support from the government. While 85% indicated that they had not received support from private companies. 26% of farmers indicated that they had received financial aid from the government.
• 47% of farmers indicated that they had received some incentive or financial support from the federal government due to a natural disaster.
• 40% of farmers indicated that they had received some incentive or financial support from the federal government due to the pandemic (COVID-19) event.
• On the other hand, 53% indicated that they had not received incentives or financial support for a natural disaster and 60% because of the pandemic from the federal government.
• 53% of farmers said they had not received any support or services for the following categories: purchase of machinery, purchase of materials, rental of machinery, any technical assistance, credit or financing, obtaining insurance, marketing or processing or transformation of their products.
• Of those farmers who indicated that they had received some type of service or support, 22% indicated that they had received it for the purchase of machinery.

As for the Barriers and difficulties faced by farmers, these indicated:

• During the period of 2020-2021, 73% of the farmers interviewed indicated that the biggest barrier they presented in their business was high material costs.
• In addition, 59% indicated that they faced problems due to lack of employees.

• On the other hand, 54% reported having problems in their business due to weather events.

• 64% of farmers indicated that the biggest cause of their losses due to weather events was due to hurricanes.
• 50% of farmers indicated that they had to change crops in the last 5 years due to production problems.
• 47% of farmers indicated that they had to change their cycle or season to plant in the last 5 years.
• Among the farmers who participated in the study, the majority mentioned having difficulties when going to the Department of Agriculture in the service area.

“Knowing the needs of our farmers will help us promote and improve local agriculture and strengthen our food security. For this reason, we are extremely pleased with the data obtained in this study, which will serve, among other data, as a basis for justifying various initiatives that improve food production in Puerto Rico,” said Dr. Orville M. Disdier Flores, executive director of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics.

The study, which was carried out through an electronic platform to farmers over 18 years of age, was carried out from May 30, 2023 to June 27, 2023 and 160 responses were received, of which 108 (68%) were considered valid. The electronic questionnaire used mixed methods, where both quantitative and qualitative information was collected.

The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute is an autonomous governmental entity tasked with coordinating the government's statistical production service to ensure that the data collection and statistics systems, on which public policies are based, are complete, reliable, and accessible quickly and universally.

On Puerto Rico's Agricultural Production Statistics and Index, interested parties can visit the multiple sections on the portal: Agriculture.

To learn more about the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics, you can access the website at www.estadisticas.pr.gov and on social networks through Facebook (@estadisticas .pr), Twitter (@EstadisticasPR) and LinkedIn (Institute of Statistics of Puerto Rico) accounts.

‍