OVERVIEW

The establishment of a rubber farm by testing the effectiveness of an innovative approach on rubber farming system that aims to produce a sustainable higher production of rubber cup lumps. This project will generally achieve the following;

a. Shorter maturity period;

b. high percentage of productive trees;

c. uniformity of stands;

d. shorter trees in order to mitigate the negative effects of strong winds; and

e. contribute to the poverty alleviation of the farmers.

This project generally aims to compare the growth performance, economic viability and farmer's acceptability of planting rubber seedlings using traditional and innovative methods of rubber farming.

The PB 260 rubber budded clones will be planted at the selected areas in Agusan del Sur and Aguan del Norte. The experiment will be laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with tree treatments and three replications.

This project will be using innovative technologies as treatment (With Root Trainer + big hole (60cm x 60cm) + Mucuna and Big Bag (10” x 20”) + big hole (60cm x 60cm) + Mucuna to be compared with traditional methods of rubber farming.

Economic analysis to determine the costs and benefits of using the innovative technologies and traditional methods will be done. Furthermore, a survey on the farmer’s preference and acceptability of using the innovative technologies will be conducted. Upon determining the most cost-effective and farmer-preferred technological intervention, training will be provided to other small-hold rubber farmers in Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte. The established rubber plantations will serve as model farms for innovative rubber technologies in rubber farming system.