Rubber is one of the types of economy of the country. The market allows to receive an almost permanent income. Indeed, it is an important raw material in the rubber processing industry. Farmers also earn income from the sale of rubber trees. However, rubber farmers are unable to set the price of rubber themselves, which results in price volatility and thus uncertain income. The Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) is trying to adapt the farmers’ concept from monoculture to integrated agriculture in accordance with the concept of sufficiency economy by raising animals and growing other plants together in the garden.
The rubber farmers attended the training course on developing learning points on sufficiency economy for sustainable rubber plantation occupation at the Rubber Learning Center, Krabi province.
Pimrapee said that the current rubber price situation has improved. Rubber growers should turn to rubber plantation management to get the maximum benefit. According to the concept of sufficiency economy, this means growing additional vegetables in the rubber plantation or livestock; planting other economic trees simultaneously in the rubber plantation. This method will help farmers reduce household expenses and increase income-generating opportunities. This will give them sustainable self-sufficiency and allow rubber farmers to no longer face the problem of falling product prices or lack of equity in product distribution.
By planting trees in the rubber plantation without relying on income from the sale of tires, farmers will enjoy economic stability and self-reliance according to the philosophy of sufficiency economy. But they still have income from other crops that are planted together in the rubber plantation. Until now, the rubber producers will set the price of rubber themselves. In addition, it was found that most of the farmers were very little affected by the recent COVID-19 virus outbreak.
On the side of Mr. Thanu Prasertkul, deputy director of the Rubber Authority of Thailand added that the training course “Development of learning on sufficiency economy for a career in rubber producers in Krabi province, has volunteered to receive training between 7-9 June. The Rubber Authority of Thailand is well aware of the problem in the profession of rubber producers of the new generation and the mission of RAOT itself, which focuses on the development of rubber through a comprehensive and holistic system to achieve sustainability for rubber producers; both theory and practice It is a real experience to create ideas that lead to self-improvement for the advancement and sustainability of rubber producers are the next treatment
