Economic status of small holder rubber farmers: a study based on Agalawatta

Abstract

Rubber is an important plantation crop which is famous all around the world. As far as Sri Lanka is concerned rubber is an important as well as export plantation crop since the period of Alien rule. In that respect, this research is taking place in order to find the economic condition of small rubber farmers of the Agalawatta area, as is its main objective. In order to achieve this particular objective researcher includes sub-objectives such as, to find out the factors impact on the production of Agalawatta small rubber farmers and to give advice to improve the economic condition of Agalawatta small rubber farmers. The study considers secondary data for the period from 1950 to 2018. These data are subject to descriptive analysis through graphs, and the software MS Excel 2013 has been used to analyze the data. As a conclusion, the factors that impact the economic condition of Agalawatta small rubber farmers are: gross production, price, cost of production, subsidies, temperature, and debt. Also found there is a fluctuating trend between these variables in specified period. So according to these conclusions, the study is proposed "private sector as well should cooperate with government to improve the department of small rubber agriculture" as a main recommendation.