Identification and prioritization of the constraints of rubber farming in Moneragala District

Abstract

Identification and prioritization of the constraints of rubber farming perceived by rubber smallholders in Moneragala district were the objectives of this study as rubber farming is still being expanded. There were 44 constraints identified by the focus group discussion with 48 Rubber Smallholders (RSs), who were selected from eight rubber-growing DS divisions based on a stratified sampling technique, prior to the questionnaire survey. Identified constraints were listed on the questionnaire. A pre-tested questionnaire survey, a focus group discussion, semi-structured interviews and field observations were used to collect data from 597 rubber smallholders who were selected from eight rubber-growing DS based on stratified sampling technique. The respondents were asked to assign a rank for all constraints. The 44 constraints perceived by rubber smallholders were categorized into following rubber farming activities; 1. Immature up-keeping, 2. Rubber tapping, 3. Manuaring of rubber farming, 4. Rubber processing, 5. Rubber marketing, 6. Extension service related to rubber farming and 7. Thurusaviya rubber societies. Among them, low quality of planting material, lack of knowledge of tapping, lack of knowledge of applying mature fertilizer unavailability of quality acid, low prices for every grade of RSS, lack of training programmes on rubber processing aspects and unsatisfactory input distribution were the highest prioritised constraints address the sustainability of rubber farming in Moneragala by the Henry Garrett Ranking Method. Development of an extension strategic plan in order to transfer the knowledge of the recommended rubber farming practices introduced by the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka to rubber smallholders in Moneragala with the aim of enhancing rubber productivity, restructuring the rubber farming subsidies focused on Intermediate Zone rubber farming, improving the rubber marketing system and strengthening the Thurusaviya rubber societies were identified as strategies to overcome the identified perceived constraints of rubber farming in Moneragala.