ISBN: - 978-93-88936-09-5 Soil conditions are good and larger number of holdings of smoke size. The poor remain poor as they are unable to utilize their land source to the optimum. Climate change has its impact on plantation. High temperature causes about 15 per cent fall in rubber production. The yield per hectare, which is the productivity of rubber plantation, is at this peak in Kerala, growing faster in Karnataka but slow movement in Tamilnadu. Rubber planting of proven and improved hybrid varieties must be easily to the rubber growers through recognized nurseries at subsidized rates. It can be pest resistant and drought-tolerant. They must be suitable to cultivation in high attitudes and adoptable to different agro climatic conditions. Empowering small holders with modern technology is a well said answer to increase productivity. The growers must be educated on the scientific methods of intensive cultivation to increase productivity by periodical “Growers Meet” organized by government organizations and extension agencies using all the popular media of communication. Liberal financial assistance can be made to the growers as crop loan and development loan through commercial banks and co-operative societies during their needy time. Warehouses must be established in the production centre. The growers should stock their rubber sheets to sell it at an attractive price at the appropriate time. The Government should introduce new varieties of rubber plants and new techniques of rubber production through the rubber board so that the employment conditions of rubber tappers would improve well. The rubber cultivators are more interested in the timely caring of rubber trees because of the continuing higher prices for rubber sheets in the international market. They are also interested to replant and new planting of rubber trees in the district. The growers who undertake replanting are allowed to raise other crops during the immaturity period, under the Replanting subsidy scheme of the Rubber Board. These inter- cropping is allowed with a view to providing the grower with a means of living, during the immaturity period. A detailed study of the economics of intercropping will be effective to convince the replanting growers of the most advantageous combination of crops that could be grown in rubber areas. The Government should also give adequate loans for the production of rubber as well as for the welfare of rubber tappers to improve their standard of living. The growers have little, if any, access to modern plantation materials and do not follow agricultural practices that maximize crop. Furthermore, they often lack sufficient funds to fertilize. 163
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