Understanding the Economic Pressures in Hog Production: Implications for Food Security and Agricultural Policy

This study investigates closely at the problems faced by small and medium-sized hog farmers in the Philippines, especially in terms of money, technology, government support, and environmental concerns. Using a descriptive quantitative method, the researchers gathered data from 49 actual hog farmers about their daily experiences. The results show that the biggest problem is financial—such as the high price of animal feed and the changing price of live pigs, which makes it hard for farmers to earn steady income. Many of these farmers depend on hog raising to support their families, but they often don’t have access to affordable veterinary services, modern tools, or strong support groups like cooperatives. The study also found that most farmers are not part of coops and are not very involved with government programs, which makes it harder for them to respond to diseases or changing farming rules. These issues weaken the hog farming sector overall. The regression analysis confirmed that money matters, technology use, policy awareness, and environmental practices all strongly affect whether farms can survive for the long term. This research ends with a clear message: to keep hog farming alive and strong, there must be a complete action plan. This includes giving financial help like subsidies, training for modern farming practices, building stronger cooperatives, and encouraging the youth to return to farming. With these combined efforts, hog farming in the Philippines can grow again and continue to support food security and rural community life.