Awareness of households to the benefits of Achuete (Bixa Orellana) in Central Luzon

As a tropical country(Philippines), it is important to find natural resources, such as plants, which could have different impact to the community and the government. This paper determined the level of awareness of households on the utilization and socio-economic benefits of achuete. Also, this paper described the economic impact and social benefits on the commercialization of achuete. This paper used descriptive method. A total of 120 households were surveyed using a questionnaire with likert-scale responses. Based on the data gathered, household respondents were mostly high school graduates having a small household size and living for more than 21 years in their locality. Farmer respondents were moderately aware on the uses of Atsuete plant, its economic benefits, and its social impact. On the other hand, respondents were somewhat aware on its socioeconomic and health benefits. Their awareness on the uses of annatto plants focus on its benefits for food preparation, can be used as synthetic colorant, and could be a potential source of income. Likewie, the know that planting and producing Atsuete plants may give benefits for the income of the family. Therefore, recommendations for regarding the results of the study are as follows: (1) agencies related to production of Atsuete should provide programs to increase awareness of rural households on the socio-economic and health benefits of Atsuete; (2) appropriate technology must be identified to enhance the production of Atsuete plants; (3) there must be policy recommendation on the production and utilization of Atsuete; and (4) there should also be a focus on the market enhancement of Atsuete plants to help households to have an economic benefit for them. Keywords— Bixa Orellana, Achuete, Awareness, Benefits.


INTRODUCTION
As a tropical country(Philippines), it is important to find natural resources, such as plants, which could have different impact to the community and the government. Urban sustainability has been linked to the preservation of balanced and cohesive retail systems established in a wide variety of facilities, shopping environments and locations (Cachinho, 2014). Bixa orellana seeds, commonly called achuete, are used in the Philippines for food colouring (Raga et al., 2011).
Achuete is used as an astringent and mild purgative and is regarded as a good remedy for dysentery and kidney disease treatment (De Vera et al., 2016). When taken internally or orally, the plant offers itself as an antidote for prussic acid, antimicrobial, purgative, and antidiarrheal effect (Valdez & Canapi, 2015). The leaf infusion has been shown to be effective against bronchitis, sore throat and inflammation of the eyes (Villar et al., 2014). The leaf extracts of Achuete had antihistaminic activity, as evidenced by the suppression of increased vascular permeability (Yong et al., 2013). Improving the Achuete color content on standing crops is a necessity of the day as they are perennial in nature and will pay a significant amount of return (Giridhar & Parimalan, 2010).
With the further insights, the researcher assessed the awareness of the households in the Philippines about the traditional and medicinal uses of Achuete which could have an economic impact to the government and socio-economic benefit to the community.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
For its medical, nutraceutical and nutritional potential values it is important to promote the intake of achuete seeds and Natural colors from plant sources for edible purposes are of great importance from the point of view of health, and also from the acceptance and preference of consumers (Venugopalan, 2011).
Achuete as an export crop and foreign exchange earner should be supported by the government in terms of introducing favorable input tax incentives, developing trade policies to protect small-scale farmers (Cheruiyot et al., 2019).

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
This paper determined the level of awareness of households on the utilization and socio-economic benefits of achuete. Also, this paper described the economic impact and social benefits on the commercialization of achuete.

II. METHODOLOGY
The descriptive method of research was used in this study because it involves description, recording, analysis and interpretation of condition that really exists. It is appropriate to use descriptive method in gathering information about the present existing condition (Creswell, 2014). A total of 120 households were surveyed using a questionnaire with likertscale responses (Vagias, 2006).
Primary and secondary data were utilized in this study. Primary data were gathered from the survey conducted with the DA-AMAD Central Luzon research team with the assistance of Provincial and Municipal Agriculture Officers for the production, utilization and trade of Annato. Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Bataan covered the data of the study. Total 120 100 Table 1 shows the demographic characteristics of the 120 respondents which majority of them were females (73.5%).

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Most of the respondents were in the age range of 41 -50 years old (34.2%) and majority were married (92.5%). A big number of respondents were high school graduate (65.8%).
Majority of the respondents' household size were composed of 3-5 members (69.2%) and have already resided in their locality for range of 21-25 years (46.7%)    Table 3 presents the level of awareness of the respondents on the socio-economic benefits of Atsuete. Results showed that respondents are somewhat aware on the socio-economic benefits of Atsuete having a general weighted mean of 2.52. They strongly agreed that the socio-economic benefits of Atsuete were: it could give opportunity to create new recipes and products (M = 3.75), can give additional source of income for the family/community (M = 3.52), and reduces health risk from the utilization of synthetic colorants (M = 3.28). These results suggest that the socio economic benefits of Atsuete were mainly for food and source of colorants. On the other hand, respondents were slightly aware on the benefit of Atsuete that it could increase soil productivity from the litters given by the plant (M = 1.48).    Table 5 shows that respondents were moderately aware on the social benefits of Atsuete having a general weighted mean of 2.95. They strongly agree that Atsuete enhances the skills of farmers in production (3.43). This results suggest that planting Atsuete can give opportunity to develop other skill in farming especially production. Further, results also show that respondents were moderately aware that planting atsuete gives enjoyment in farming and nature (M = 3.00) and gives time of being with the family and planting/harvesting together (M = 3.00).

IV. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the data gathered, household respondents were mostly high school graduates having a small household size and living for more than 21 years in their locality. Farmer respondents were moderately aware on the uses of Atsuete plant, its economic benefits, and its social impact. On the other hand, respondents were somewhat aware on its socio-economic and health benefits. Their awareness on the uses of annatto plants focus on its benefits for food preparation, can be used as synthetic colorant, and could be a potential source of income. Likewie, the know that planting and producing Atsuete plants may give benefits for the income of the family. Therefore, recommendations for regarding the results of the study are as follows: (1) agencies related to production of Atsuete should provide programs to increase awareness of rural households on the socio-economic and health benefits of Atsuete; (2) appropriate technology must be identified to enhance the production of Atsuete plants; (3) there must be policy recommendation on the production and utilization of Atsuete; and (4) there should also be a focus on the market enhancement of Atsuete plants to help households to have an economic benefit for them.