NFA RICE (Responsive Initiatives for Confidence Enhancement) in the Marginalized Sector

The study intended to address the gap in the knowledge regarding the consumers’ perception on NFA rice quality through data triangulation from among the consumers and review of existing policies of the agency. Moreover, the level of perception of NFA rice quality when taken as a whole as assessed by consumers in Barangay Ermita, Sipaway Island before the implementation of project initiatives was neutral, which means that they neither agreed nor disagreed with the statements about NFA rice. When grouped according to age, the 15-30 years old group agreed that the statements were mostly true. On the other hand, the 31-45 and 46-60 years old groups gave a neutral rating. When grouped according to civil status, the single and separated agreed while the married and widowed were neutral. When grouped according to the number of children, those without children and with 3-5 children agreed while those with only 1-2 children and 6-10 children gave a neutral rating. When grouped according to the educational level, the college level and high school level respondents rated neutral; however, the elementary level agreed. Also, when grouped according to family monthly income, the less than P5,000 and P5,000 to P8,000 monthly income groups rated neutral whereas the P8,000 to P10,000 and more than P10,000 monthly income groups agreed that descriptions of NFA rice are mostly true. After the project initiatives were implemented, the respondents when taken as a whole agreed that the descriptions about NFA rice are mostly correct. Likewise, the respondents across the variables agreed that most statements regarding NFA rice are true. An exception is the widows who were not entirely convinced about NFA rice. Regarding their dominant perception in the area of consumption, 206 from 217 total respondents consume NFA mostly daily. In terms of awareness, 198 residents knew about NFA rice and 144 respondents said that their awareness about NFA rice came from their own experience. In the area of preference, 203 respondents like NFA rice. However, in the area of purchase, 206 respondents buy NFA rice at the barangay accredited outlet. The study reveals that there was a significant difference in the level of perception before and after the project initiatives were conducted when taken as a whole. According to age, there was a significant difference in all categories. Regarding civil status, there was a significant difference in the level of perception of the married respondents and none among single, separated, and widowed respondents. Concerning the number of children, there was no significant difference in the level of perception among the respondents with no children contrary to families with 1 to 10 children. In terms of educational level, there was no significant difference among respondents who were in the college level contrary to the respondents in high school and elementary levels. As regards to family monthly income, there was no significant difference among respondents who earn P8,000 to P10,000 monthly and more. However, there was a significant difference among respondents who earn less than P8,000 monthly. There was no significant difference in the level of perception before and after project initiatives conducted in the areas of consumption, awareness, preference, and purchase. In the sensory analysis between the panelists and consumers, there was a significant difference in the assessment of the raw NFA rice opposing their assessment of the cooked NFA rice. The top contributing factor that caused low confidence among the consuming public before and after the project initiatives is the tough texture of NFA rice. A Rice Distribution Policy is proposed to improve confidence in NFA rice quality by enhancing its accessibility among consumers.