Successful rubber smallholders practicing integrated farming systems: case studies

Mohd Ghouse Wanchik, . (2000) Successful rubber smallholders practicing integrated farming systems: case studies. [Proceedings Paper]

After the estate sector opts to plant the more lucrative crop of oil palm the smallholder sector is left to play a predominant role in the growth and development of the Malaysian rubber industry. The majority of them either in land schemes or unorganized individuals continue to be plagued by persistent low productivity and low level of income from their holdings largely due to uneconomic size holding capital deficiency and low adoption of available technology. Moreover decreasing prices of the commodity coupled with rising inflation paints a gloomy picture for the guardian of the rubber industry. Through the Revised Rubber Strategy RRS of the MRB or LGM efforts are being made to help rubber smallholders by encouraging farmers to increase tree productivity as well as their income with the application of new technologies such as Low Intensity Tapping Systems LITS and replanting with new Latex Timber Clones LTC. Moreover LGM has introduced successful farming systems by integrating the rubber with cash crops fruits industrial crops and animal husbandry. The 5 case studies involve rubber smallholder families around the country who were successful in their venture by diversifying their farming systems to accommodate cash crops and livestock production. They employed the hedge planting perimeter planting or conventional planting systems of rubber. The 5 farmers profited by earning as much as RM386 RM579 RMl 389 RM1 784 and RM1 958 per month on their holdings ranging from 0.567 ha -5.263 ha. Farm I grew cash crops in the interrows under hedge planting of triple row rubber trees that netted an income of RM386. Farm 2 planted only pineapples in between rubber trees on a conventional planting system which produced an income of RMl 958. Farm 3 practiced triple row hedge planting of rubber with sugar cane that gave an earning of RMl 389. Farm4 integrated rubber growing with cash crops plus poultry and fish rearing amidst perimeter planting system of triple row rubber that earned him RM1 784. Farm 5 adopted cash crops in the interrows of triple hedge rubber that provided an income of RM5 79. Apparently rubber growing can still be a successful venture by adopting suitable farming systems by integrating the rubber with cash crops fruits and animal rearing.

Full text available from:

Abstract

After the estate sector opts to plant the more lucrative crop of oil palm the smallholder sector is left to play a predominant role in the growth and development of the Malaysian rubber industry. The majority of them either in land schemes or unorganized individuals continue to be plagued by persistent low productivity and low level of income from their holdings largely due to uneconomic size holding capital deficiency and low adoption of available technology. Moreover decreasing prices of the commodity coupled with rising inflation paints a gloomy picture for the guardian of the rubber industry. Through the Revised Rubber Strategy RRS of the MRB or LGM efforts are being made to help rubber smallholders by encouraging farmers to increase tree productivity as well as their income with the application of new technologies such as Low Intensity Tapping Systems LITS and replanting with new Latex Timber Clones LTC. Moreover LGM has introduced successful farming systems by integrating the rubber with cash crops fruits industrial crops and animal husbandry. The 5 case studies involve rubber smallholder families around the country who were successful in their venture by diversifying their farming systems to accommodate cash crops and livestock production. They employed the hedge planting perimeter planting or conventional planting systems of rubber. The 5 farmers profited by earning as much as RM386 RM579 RMl 389 RM1 784 and RM1 958 per month on their holdings ranging from 0.567 ha -5.263 ha. Farm I grew cash crops in the interrows under hedge planting of triple row rubber trees that netted an income of RM386. Farm 2 planted only pineapples in between rubber trees on a conventional planting system which produced an income of RMl 958. Farm 3 practiced triple row hedge planting of rubber with sugar cane that gave an earning of RMl 389. Farm4 integrated rubber growing with cash crops plus poultry and fish rearing amidst perimeter planting system of triple row rubber that earned him RM1 784. Farm 5 adopted cash crops in the interrows of triple hedge rubber that provided an income of RM5 79. Apparently rubber growing can still be a successful venture by adopting suitable farming systems by integrating the rubber with cash crops fruits and animal rearing.

[error in script]

Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	Available at Perpustakaan Sultan Abdul Samad Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 UPM Serdang Selangor Malaysia. QK710.2 M239 2000 Call Number
AGROVOC Term:	Rubber industry
AGROVOC Term:	Rubber
AGROVOC Term:	Smallholders
AGROVOC Term:	Integrated land management
AGROVOC Term:	Farming systems
AGROVOC Term:	Case studies
AGROVOC Term:	Mixed farming
AGROVOC Term:	Cash crops
AGROVOC Term:	Fruit crops
AGROVOC Term:	Animal husbandry
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:15
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/12923

Actions (login required)

View Item