Some Factors Effecting the Promotion of Rubber Cropping Program in the Rayong Province

Abstract

The objectives of the research were to study some socioeconomic factors of the rubber replanters, their cultivations and some factors effecting rubber cropping, their problems and suggestions. The sample under study consisted of 150 rubber replanters from the total 1,051 rubber replanting member in Changwat Rayong. The data were collected by using interview schedule and were analysed through the application of percentage. The results of the study revealed that most of the rubber replanters were male, in the labour age group. Their residence were in the provinces that had rubber cropping. The family members were 1-3 persons. The range of small land holding is 26-50 rais, where approximately 20 rais or less of their land was rubber plantating. The tapping system was done every other day for 6-10 months per year. The rubber sheet production was 10 sheets or more per day. The price of the rubber sheet given by non local merchant is 16-20 bahts per kilogram. The income of rubber replanters was at least 30,000 bahts per year. Some factors effecting the rubber cropping were low investment, low cost of labour, pest control and the deftness of sale production. Most of the rubber replanters did not join with any farmer group or cooperatives and did not have any training on rubber cropping technology. Problems of the rubber replanters were the lack of information on improvement of soil fertility and pesticide application. The requests of the farmers for yield improvement were : training on cropping technology, price guarantee by the government. Most of the rubber replanters wanted to expand the rubber planting area due to better return than the other crops and needed the assistance capital. The suggestion to the investigators were as follows: 1. Mass media and personal media for rubber cropping training were necessary. 2. Farmer’s group should be formed in order to assist the member on producing and selling. 3. Technology transfer on rubber producing and processing in term of mass media should be considered.