CHARACTERIZATION OF ONION PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN COCLÉ, PANAMA

Abstract

A survey was conducted to characterize the current status and production practices of onion growers in Coclé Province, Panama. A purposive sampling approach was employed, and information was collected through a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests of independence, Cramer's V coefficient, and Pearson’s contingency coefficient. The results showed that all surveyed producers were literate and that the farming population was dominated by growers older than 40 years, with limited participation of younger producers. Four producer associations were identified within a relatively small production sector. Farm size data indicated that onion production is primarily conducted by small-scale farmers, while land tenure arrangements were diverse. Producers reported access to both public and private technical assistance services. Although soil analyses were generally not performed, fertilizer application rates ranged from 680.4 to 1.134 kg^.ha⁻¹. Marketing was conducted through multiple channels. Sixteen contingency tables were analyzed using Chi-square tests. The null hypothesis of independence was rejected (p<0.05) in only two cases, whereas no significant association was detected in the remaining fourteen comparisons. Differences were observed between association measures, with Cramer’s V providing a more conservative assessment of variable relationships than Pearson’s contingency coefficient. The survey successfully characterized key socioeconomic and production features of onion farming in Coclé and highlighted the economic and social importance of this crop for producers and rural communities in the district of Natá. The results also indicate that future studies could benefit from incorporating additional multivariate statistical approaches to further explore relationships among production, socioeconomic, and management variables.