Rubber Fund Cooperatives: Livelihood Strategy of rubber planters under the Situation of Rubber’s Price Fluctuation Case Study of Baan Wang Pa, Thung Tam Sao Hat Yai, Songkhla

Abstract

The article aims to study the Livelihood strategy of Rubber Planters living in Baan Wang Pa Community Tambon Thug Tam Sao Amphoe Hat Yai, Songkhla under the fluctuation in rubber prices using in-depth interview, focus group discussion, participant observation, and non-participant observation as field data collection methods. Together with the literature review, the key participants are 30 rubber farmers who own rubber plantation and have been members of Baan Wang Pa Rubber Fund Cooperatives for a minimum of 5 years. The qualitative data collected is verified by content analysis and the result is described using descriptive analysis. Moreover, Data triangulation is used to examine the validity of the data.

            The findings of this research suggest that rubber planters in Baan Wang Pa Community Tambon Thug Tam Sao Amphoe Hat Yai, Songkhla have changed their ways of living and develop living strategy, using social capital management, by becoming a member of Baan WangPa Rubber Fund Cooperatives Limited in order to enhance the competitiveness among para rubber farmers under the situation of fluctuation in rubber prices. In fact, integration in form of cooperative is considered as a creation of the social network and job security for Rubber Planters since rubber fund cooperatives is an agricultural institution established specifically for farmers. Implicitly, the integration of para rubber farmers and social capital management in form of the rubber fund cooperative are regarded as another strategy for living and survival of farmers under the fluctuation in rubber prices.