The connection between rubber production and livelihood under rubber farming system along with oil palm growing in the southeast coast of Thailand

Abstract

The results showed that the farmers still relied on the old production technology for rubber and oil palm. The financial cost of production was quite highly compared with the quality of livelihood. The study found that farmers still lacked adaptation skills for self-development and easily vulnerable to change the condition sof unstable weather and price fluctuation. The purpose of linking their socioeconomic status, the society, rubber production with sustainable livelihood of smallholding rubber farming, oil palm growing under rubber production system, and other agricultural activities indicated that economic factors such as price of production, cost of production, income level, and poor saving culture had considerable effect on the finances of the households. Social factors, such as lack of information, poor educational level and other experiences were combined with social capital and adaptation of rubber farmers for changing times. To reduce the limitations on their livelihood and production outputs, the farmers needed to learn the proper techniques for production that would improve the efficiency of the production process and lead to harnessing resources effectively. These would positively impact their natural capability to earn their livelihood. The format of linkage between production and livelihood was composed of 1 related sub-systems. These were the production system, support system, strategic system, and livelihood achievement system.