Recent Evolution of Rubber-Based Farming Systems in Southern Thailand

Abstract

Following the economic crisis of 1997 in Thailand, rubber-based smallhold farms were forced to take various steps to remain economically viable. These steps were taken with the objective of increasing the farm's productivity and farm income, and as a result six types of rubber-based farming systems evolved, which are now found throughout the rubber growing areas of Thailand. These changes involved many aspects of the bio-physical and socio-economic attributes of the farms, and the farmers who wished to adapt also faced a number of constraints which affected the ability of smallholders to adopt the new technology. Adaptations included consolidation of farms by enlarging the size, improving the equipment and machinery used, strengthening local farmer's groups, using high-yield varieties, changing to modern methods of disease and pest control, and adapting the rubber products to meet current market demand. These changes are studied in relation to the smallholders' decision making process leading to farm transformations. Rubber-fruit and rubberintegrated farms excelled in economic performance due to greater farm income than other farm types. However, smallholders face many constraints in trying to maintain a profitable farming operation, including fluctuating prices, low capital for investment, disease and pests, insufficient water and poor water management systems. To encourage and help farmers change, farm modernization implementation strategies are suggested, including providing improved credit systems, modern tapping methods, provision of soil and leaf analysis, provision of infrastructure and financial incentives, provision of information on high-yield varieties, and new water resources infrastructure development. To help increase farm income directly, it is suggested to implement government programs which focus on the needs of smallholders, encourage agents of technology transfer to be more supportive of smallholders, improve rubber-processing technology, encourage the establishment of value-added businesses in local communities and optimize land use.