Economic Performances of Small Holding Rubber-based Farms in Southern Region Thailand: Case Study in Khao Phra, Phijit, and Khlong Phea Communities Songkhla Province

Abstract

Rubber small holding farms, presently, were forced to adapt to maintain economic viability under the economic crisis in South East Asia. The results were founded that four systems of rubber based farms, namely, rubber-intercrop farming system, rubber-fruit tree farming system, rubber-livestock farming system and rubber-integrated framing system show better economic performances with greater gross margin, higher net farm income, and better justification as evidenced by investment appraisal than other farm types, especially in cases of the sub-systems including rubber-pineapple farming system (R21) Rubber--durian-mangosteen farming system (R43), rubber--durian-mangosteen-rambutan farming system (R44), rubber-chicken farming system (R53), and Rubber--durian-fishery farming system (R61). These system are, therefore, appropriate for promoting extension service in the rubber growing area in Thailand.