Decision making by rubber smallholders between the puncture tapping and tradition method of tapping, Changwat Nakhon Si Thammarat

Decision making by rubber smallholders between the puncture tapping and tradition method of tapping, Changwat Nakhon Si Thammarat
การตัดสินใจในการใช้วิธีการกรีดยางระหว่างวิธีการเจาะต้นยางโดยใช้แก๊สเร่งน้ำยาง กับการใช้มีดกรีดยางของเกษตรกรชาวสวนยางพาราจังหวัดนครศรีธรรมราช

Sirijit Thungwa, Assoc. Prof., D. of Agricultural Development, F. of Natural Resources, PSU.
Somyot Thungwa, Assoc. Prof., D. of Agricultural Development, F. of Natural Resources, PSU.
Ibrahim Yeedam, Asst. Prof., D. of Plant Sci., F. of Natural Resources, PSU.
Veerayut Lawan, D. of Agricultural Development, F. of Natural Resources, PSU.

Grant : Government Budget
Published : Research Report
Key words : decision making, rubber smallholders, puncture tapping

The objectives of this research were to study bio-physical and socio-economic characteristics of rubber farmers, factors affecting decision-making on the use of puncture tapping and to compare opinions of rubber farmers who use the puncture tapping method and those who use the traditional tapping method. A qualitative study was carried out using an in-depth interview with 8 households of both groups of the rubber farmers, and a quantitative study was conducted by interviewing two groups of farmers totaling 137 rubber farmers : 56 using the puncture tapping method, and 81 using the traditional method. The results of the study are as follows :

In the qualitative study, it was found that the advantages of the puncture tapping method over the traditional method were : (1) more latex obtained, (2) possibility of tapping in the rainy season, (3) possibility of tapping during the day, (4) more productive labor, (5) no need for skilled labor, (6) less contaminated latex, (7) less incidence of Dieblack disease, and (8) availability of advice from Agro-base Business sales representatives. The disadvantages of the puncture tapping method were : (1) high cost of production, (2) cash needed to buy equipment from the company, (3) more fertilizer required, (4) less percentage of Dry Rubber Content (%DRC), and (5) possibility of long-term damage to the texture of the rubber trees.

Quantitatively, it was found that factors affecting the decision-making of the rubber farmers on using the puncture tapping method were : the size of the rubber plantation, the number of labor units available, economic status, and difference in the age and education. Rubber farmers decided to use the puncture tapping method after receiving information from sales representatives and talking to their neighbors whose net income had increased, labor problems were solved, and the tapping period increased. The opinions of the rubber farmers on the puncture method were as follows : Benefits : They strongly agreed that the latex was less contaminated and latex production was more constant all year round. Labor : No skilled labor was needed and tapping could be done during rainy days, and less labor was needed giving them more time to do other activities. Practice and risk : More invest-ment was needed and in the long run, it might affect the texture of the rubber trees. Information : They received information on the puncture tapping method from sales representatives and their neighbors.

The comparison of the puncture tapping method and the traditional methods showed that the differences between the two methods were : Bio-physical factors : The difference in the life span of the rubber trees and latex production was statistically significant (Pฃ.01). Economic factors : The difference in the net income, sizes of plantation, and labor units was statistically significant (Pฃ.01); the difference in the net income, total household income, and number of labor units was statistically significant (Pฃ.05). Social factors : The difference in the age and education of the household leaders was statistically significant (Pฃ.01). Psychological factors : The difference in their opinions on benefits, labor, practice and risk, and information was statistically significant (Pฃ.01).

It can be concluded that latex production using the puncture tapping method helped solve the problems of farmers who previously used the traditional method in terms of labor and time, as well as the production volume. However, the puncture tapping method is an innovation suitable for farmers with adequate investment and a large area of rubber plantation. The limitations of this method in- clude a high cost of equipment available only by cash and through a monopoly company. Therefore, the method is not suitable for small rubber holders who are the majority of the farmers in the country. Besides this, the puncture tapping method is an innovation introduced by a private company, and re-lated government agencies such as the Rubber Research Institute of Thailand, the Office of Rubber Replantation and Funds (ORRAF), and the Department of Agricultural Extension have not carried out studies on this new technology of puncture tapping. Hence, rubber farmers do not have adequate information to help them in decision-making. They are not certain whether the new method would, in the long run, affect the texture of the trees when they are cut down and used as wood. These are some of the reasons why this innovation is not yet widespread. However, it is an alternative for rubber farmers who want to solve problems arising from using the traditional tapping method. Related go-vernment agencies should conduct studies to obtain data as well as develop the body of knowledge of puncture tapping so that it can be beneficial to rubber farmers and the economic development of the country.

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