Seeking security through rubber intercropping: A case study from northeastern Thailand

Abstract

A major constraint of smallholder farmer to plant their rubber is the sources of income for their subsistence during 6-7 years from planting until the rubber enter production. Again, it was due to price fluctuations year to year after enter production. Intercropping of rubber with cash crops will provide alternative sources of income and protect farmers from price instability. This qualitative research using household rubber growers interviews, crop and soil measurement were carried out to study aim to investigate growth of rubber and cash crops, yield of cash crops, as well as farmers’ income from cash crops at Nongnangvong village, Khon Kaen province where farmers practiced intercropping of immature rubber with banana and cassava, and at Poopankham village, Nongbualampoo province, as well as Nongsaengsoi village, Udorn-Tani province where farmers practiced intercropping of mature rubber with coffee. The results indicated that intercropping of immature  rubber with banana and banana combined with Calopogonium caeruleum tends to promote girth growth. Cassava intercropped with immature rubber gave similar girth growth of rubber compared to sole rubber. Mature rubber trees intercropped with coffee had no retarding effect on the main crop. In some cases, intercropping of mature rubber with coffee tended to improve girth growth of rubber trees  compared to sole rubber. Intercropping of banana and banana combined with Calopogonium caeruleum with immature rubber provided net income 139 and 148 US$/ha, respectively. Cassava intercropped with immature rubber gave net income 763 US$ha-1 in this present study. Irrespective of coffee, intercropping coffee with mature rubber provided net income 310-845 US$ha-1 in this study. Therefore, intercropping immature or mature rubber with economic crops would provide assurance of securing rubber grower under price fluctuation.