Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

Philippines was believed for being agriculture-based country. Most of its local farmers

cultivate grains, vegetables, and poultry or broiler animals. Prime agricultural lands are located

around the main urban and high population density areas. Swine production in the Philippines is

the largest among the livestock and poultry industries of the country.

Swine productions plays a major role in ensuring the country’s food security by

providing about 60% of the total animal meat consumption of the Filipinos. The Philippine swine

industry is ranked eighth in the world in terms of the volume of pork production and number of

breeding sows. However, majority of the pigs in the Philippine are kept by small hold pig raisers.

Regardless of being dynamic and technologically advanced, the local pig industry is still

confronted with inefficiency of production due to low sow productivity, high mortality due to

inefficiency diagnostic tool, and lack of native pig genetic resource conservation, improvement,

and utilization initiative.

Due to this inefficiency for insurance of better swine production, the local farmers which

is believed to be part of the huge number that produced pig animals, use alternatives and manual

services to take better care of their animals.

These alternatives include alternative pig feeds that local agriculturists of urban areas

utilized and still used for their farm animals. Instead of buying commercialized products, local
farmers use food crops such as Xanthosoma sagittifolium,1 Colocosia esculenta2,

Amorphophallus paeoniifloius 3and other species of Family Araceae to be taken by pigs as their

food sustenance.4

Despite of all the researches, literatures and studies, there are still no broad studies prove

that Alocasia macrorrhiza is really an effective alternative as a food supplement for pigs.

Palawan’s capital, Puerto Princesa is a city that is known for having abundant natural

resources and country’s largest city with a total land area of 253,982 hectares and 151,405

hectares sums up the forest covers in the city.

One of the medicinal plants in Puerto Princesa City is Alocasia macrorrhiza or locally

known as Badiang. This has been used by the locals as an ornament, feeds for animals, and

medicinal herb.

The researchers observed that in Puerto Princesa City, Badiang are not usually used and

were recognized as an invasive species, unlike in other countries such as India where it is utilized

as a food source. It is being cultivate by the local residents in the province yet there is no specific

commercialized product sold in the market labelling as pig feeds.

1 Rodrigues, L. et. Al, Digestability and nitrogen balance in growing pigs fed a diet sugar cane juice and
fresh leaves of New Cocoyam (Xanthosamasagittifolium) as partial or complete replacement for soybean
protein, www.mekarn.org/proprf/rodr2.htm, August 2006
2 Preston T.R et al, Taro as a local feed resource for pigs in small scale household condition,

www.lrrd.org/lrrd22/8/toan22152.htm
3 Anuradha Sungh et al., A review on multiple Potential of Aroid: Amorphophallus paeoniifolius,

http://globalresearchonline.net/journalcontents/v24-1/11.pdf
4 Anim, J.M., Giant Taro (Alocasia macrorrhiza) Root Meal with or without Coconut Oil slurry as source of

Dietary Energy for Laying Hens, mjas.my/mjas-v2/rf/pages/journal/v19i2-4-Diarra(Giant)_r4.pdf,

the local farmers utilizing Alocasia macrorrhiza. Its main aim is to produce a Badiang pellet that

served as an additional pig feeds that cost less than commercial products.

The researchers studied and conducted an experiment regarding the nutritional content

and efficacy of Badiang and produced a product that can be beneficial to the local residents.

With this reason, the researchers conceptualized to conduct a study regarding the nutritional

content and efficacy of Badiang plant as pig feeds in selected barangays of Puerto Princesa City.

Conceptual Framework

The Philippines is undeniably one of the most interesting countries in Asia. With over a

100 million souls and a rapidly developing economy, there is a constant demand for pig meat and

pork.

The swine sector is the second largest economic activity in the Philippines’ agricultural

sector. Domestic pig production has been rising in both backyard and modern commercial farms.

The swine industry of the Philippines is one where jobs and economic opportunity seem

guaranteed for the next decade for those who want to commit to a career or investment in

modern pig production and processing. Demand is growing, in line with population and income

(and tourism), and meat consumption is expected to grow in parallel.

Palawan as an island concluded to cultivate fish, also raise different farm animals such as

chicken, broilers and livestock. Being known as a “City in the Forest”, Palawenos not just

cultivate in the Rural Area but also in Urban Area. On the locales where it is not yet modernized,
aside from being a tourist destination, one of the things they do for living is taking care of pigs

and chickens.

Feeding pigs wasn’t the hardest part for the farmers since they use their leftovers foods to

give the swine. Aside from leftovers, some farmers utilize Badiang (Alocasia macrorrhiza) and

mixes it together with the scraps to feed the pigs.

Badiang, according to the farmers on the interview, was mixed to the scraps because they

believed that it gives additional nutrient to the pigs. There are also studies and literatures proving

the advantages of Badiang as food intake for pigs. Despite of these knowledges, there are only

limited studies specify the efficacy of Badiang as Pig Food Sustenance.

With these literatures and studies, the researchers conceptualize that a study on Badiang

must be done to properly identify the plant’s efficacy as pig feeds. A test to identify the

nutritional content of Badiang will be done to recognize the plant’s different food substances and

increase the efficacy of it as feeds.

The researchers produced Badiang pellets named as Badjumbo (Badiangbo) to be a food

sustenance for pigs as a product on this study.

Research Paradigm

Input Process Output

 Badiang  Extraction of Badiang  Badiang

Figure 1 shows that Badiang or Alocasia Macrorrhiza (Input) was needed to be tested in

order to identify the nutritional content of Badiang. Afterwards, extraction Badiang is done for

further investigation to proceed to manufacturing pellets (Process) to make Badiang Pellet

(Output).
Statement of the Problem

The researchers aim to know the efficacy of Badiang (Alcocasia macrorrhiza) as an

alternative food-sustenance for pigs.

Specifically, this study sought answer to the following questions:

1. What are the nutritional content present in Badiang (Alocasia macrorrhiza)?

2. What are the essential nutritional requirements of pigs?

3. What is the efficacy of Badiang (Alocasia macrorrhiza) as pig feeds?

4. What are the effects of Badiang (Alocasia macrorrhiza) on the growth and

development of swine in terms of:,

a. Degree of muscling

b. Growth

c. Capacity of Volume

d. Degree of leanness

e. Structure and soundness

Hypothesis:

1. Ho: There is no significant relationship between the different concentrations of Badiang

on Pig feeds.

2. Ho: There is no significant relationship between the pig feeds/ Badiang and the growth

and development of swine.

The investigations of the “Efficacy of Badiang (Alocasia macrorrhiza) as an alternative

food-sustenance for pigs” deemed significant to the following:

Department of Science and Technology. The study will provide valuable information

on the nutritional value of the Badiang plant which will pave way for new

medicinal/technological endeavors that will benefit both the department and the community as a

whole.

Foresters. The study will provide foresters proper information about the plant that will

enable them to protect and preserve it.

Department of Health. The study will benefit the DOH by proving the nutritional value

of the Badiang plant which will help the DOH in their quest to mitigate illnesses in the country.

Local Residents. This study will help the locals by providing cheap yet quality

alternatives for pig feeds and the like by utilizing the proved beneficial properties of the Badiang

plant

Researchers. This study will help to expand their knowledge about the characteristics

and uses of the Badiang plant.

Future Researchers. The study will serve as a reference for future researchers;it will

provide useful background information; it can also inspire other studies that will further

investigate the useful properties of the Badiang plant.

Palawan National School. This study will help the school in such a way that it provides

new information on a local plant.

maintaining the proper use and care of the Badiang plant.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources. This study aims to help the

DENR to give them information about the characteristics of the Badiang plant so that they will

know on how to protect and conserve this kind of plant.

Department of Agriculture. This study aims to help the DOA to inform them about the

potential sales of this product in the market because of its useful effect.

Scope and Delimitation

This study delimited on the following:

Problem. This study is entitled Efficacy of Badiang (Alocasia macrorrhiza) as an

alternative food-sustenance for pigs.

It aimed to determine the nutritional content and the efficacy of Badiang as a food

sustenance for pigs. The researchers also aimed to produce a product at the end of this study.

Locale. The study conducted in Barangay San Pedro, Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

The map of Barangay San Pedro is presented on the next page. For the experimental part, the

manufactures and tests will be conducted at the household of a relative in Baranga San Pedro.

Time Frame. The study started from November 2017 and end in March 2018.
 Figure 2

Map of Barangay San Pedro, Puerto Princesa City

Figure 2 shows the research locale of Barangay San Pedro,

Puerto Princesa City

study, these terms are hereby defined operationally and theoretically.

Broiler. A young chicken that is suitable for broiling.

Commercialize. To develop activities that relates to the business.

Corm. A rounded, thick, underground storage organ present in plants.

Domestic. Existing on a particular country.

Efficacy. Able to produce a desired result.

Endeavour. Strived to achieve.

Forester. A person skilled in foresting.

Invasive. Tending to spread that is believed to be harmful or undesirable.

Mitigate. Less severe.

Pellets. Small, hard shaped (balled) of food, medicine and others.

Sustenance. Anything (such as foods) that keeps something alive.

Swine. A term used for adult pig