ISBN: - 978-93-88936-09-5 smallholdings. But the average size of a smallholding is less than one hectare. Perhaps, India is the only country where the average size of rubber holding is so small. According to Rubber Plantation Development Scheme -phases I to IV (1980-2000) the term 'small rubber grower' stipulates that the total area planted with rubber owned by a person or jointly by a group of persons should have its extent limited to 5 hectares. According to the Rubber Act, 1947, small grower means, "an owner whose estate does not exceed 50 acres in area (20.33 hectares)." But a vast majority of the members of the Rubber Producers' Societies are owners of rubber area up to 5 hectares. Therefore, small rubber growers for the purpose of this study include rubber growers having rubber area between 50 cents and 5 hectares. A rubber smallholding in India is statutorily defined as a holding that does not exceed 20 hectares. According to him, the average size of a smallholding is 1.19 hectares. 1.4 (B) Rubber Producers' Societies (RPS) The Rubber Producers' Societies are grass root level voluntary organizations of small rubber growers registered as charitable societies and promoted by the Rubber Board. RPSs are now functioning as extension arms of the board. They are actively involved in the implementation of almost all farmers support schemes. The services rendered by RPS to the growers in areas of technology transfer, input supply, plantation maintenance, harvesting practices, primary processing and quality improvement of sheets, environment protection through proper effluent treatment and rubber marketing are laudable. 1.4 (C) supports by co-operatives Co-operatives institutions at the village, taluk, district and the state levels have played a major role in supporting rubber development activities. Through timely delivery of plantation inputs at reasonable price, these institutions have assisted in increasing rubber production an ensured higher value for the money spent by the farmers. The role played by the co-operatives in marketing rubber is commendable. When rubber price fell to the rock bottom and there were no takers for rubber produced by the small and marginal growers, certain co-operatives dared to purchase their rubber at the minimum notified price even suffering financial loss. It was a great relief to the farmers. 1.4 (D) New Planting There cannot be any increase in new planting especially in the small holding sector unless rubber cultivation becomes financially attractive in the long run. Under the existing market conditions, there is a tendency among small holders to switch over to other crops. This can be checked only by effecting appropriate price policy measures for natural rubber. 15
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