Abstract

The study addressed the problem of absence of quantitative indicators for categorizing barangays as sampling units, with the end in view of improving agricultural survey designs. The initial list of indicators included 18 variables pertaining to agriculture particularly on the farm household, land area utilization, cropping pattern, livestock and poultry, support facilities and related institutional support, as wll as 24 variables dealing on education, public utility, media, livelihood projects, marketing, and sports and recreation facilities. Multivariate data analysis techniques were used, and results revealed that average farm size was the most significant variable in determining barangay agricultural development level. This finding strengthened the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics’ practice of using farm area as a stratification variable or criterion for grouping or designing a sample survey. On the overall, the statistical model and indicator system could be used for classifying barangays according to level of agricultural development.