ISBN: - 978-93-88936-09-5 • In Kalkulam taluk 130 respondents are educated, and as a few as 10 are illiterate. In Vilavancode taluk 98 respondents are educated and remaining 12 are illiterate. In Thovalai taluk 43 respondents are educated, and the rest of them are illiterates. • The Majority of the respondents in the three taluks are married, and they have more responsibilities and strong influences as to do anything for their earnings. • A maximum of 66 per cent (200) respondents are full time cultivators and other 44 per cent (100) comes under the category of part time cultivators. It reveals that the Majority of the respondents are full-time cultivators and their earnings solely depend on NR cultivation. • The study brings to important factors that determine the preferences for NR cultivation by the growers. It includes family cultivation/ availability of land for cultivation, unemployment, climatic condition, self-interest/ attractive price and easy marketability. • Only a few of, 65 respondents (22) are using non-organic fertilizers for the cultivation of natural rubber. • This study exhibits that among the total distribution, 43 per cent (130) have fruits, 21 per cent (62) of the respondents have spinach, 19 per cent (59) have vegetables and at least 17 percent (50) have flowers as intercrops to rubber trees. It is understood that the majority of the respondents have preferred intercrops as fruits. • The majority of the respondents feel that the quality of rubber produced in Kanyakumari district is one of the best qualities in the world and the yield per acre is also very well compared to the other parts of India. • The findings reveal that 46.5 per cent of the (140) respondents have used smoke houses, 26 per cent (77) have used sun drying, and 18 per cent (53) use partial sun drying and the least, 10 per cent (30) use kitchen drying for rubber sheets. A minimum number of respondents are using kitchen drying for rubber sheets, because they have less than 2 acres of land for cultivation of rubber. • This study examines that the 48 per cent (145) are tapping the trees by professional tappers, 22 per cent (66) by all, 20 per cent (59) by their family members and 10 per cent by him/her. • It could be understood that the majority of the respondents are using plastic cups, which are easily available in the market and have a long usage and quite durable. • The Majority of the respondents are feels that lack of availability of skilled labour and tappers. These factors might be affecting the production of rubber. Hence, in modern day’s new technology adopted for tapping and planting rubber trees. So the awareness and training should be given to them. 157
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