Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

RUBBER FARMING, BOON OR BANE FOR THE FARMERS IN TRIPURA; A SOCIO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

Prabhakar and Prodyut Bhattacharya

Abstract

Tripura, in India’s North-Eastern region, has experienced a remarkable increase in the area under rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantation, making it the country’s second-largest producer of rubber by the presence of 1.10 lakh rubber farmers cultivating 77400 ha of the area after Kerela. Its acceptance and spread among tribal smallholders, especially shifting farmers, has given them with an alternative source of income as well as economic stability and livelihood security for “Jhumias”. This study aims to analyze the socio-economic impacts and changes with the smallholder’s rubber plantation farmers in Tripura. A questionnaire survey was conducted for the study and 160 respondents participated from the districts Gomti and Sephaijala which has predominated rubber production. According to the study findings, the bulk of the questioned farmers’ principal source of income is from rubber plantations, around 95% of farmers who took the survey had less than 5 acres of the area under rubber plantation. More than 50% of farmers rely on rubber plantations, adding more than 75% to their monthly household income. About 83% of farmers had additional sources of income along with rubber. With the assistance of Tribal Welfare Department, Forest Department, and the implementation of suitable state policies and initiatives, smallholders adopted rubber plantation. Indirectly large-scale rubber plantation in Tripura contributes to the climate commitments of India towards carbon sequestration.