Strategic revamping of natural rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) production system: Implications for livelihood sustainability in Delta state, Nigeria

Abstract

Rubber industry in Nigeria is a source of livelihood to many people (producers and marketers)but a recent trend shows a fast disappearing rubber industry. The economic risks associated with disappearing rubber plantations is a serious challenge to individuals and societies as the natural, social and economic benefits of the industry are gradually eroded. Revamping the rubber plantation will restore and sustain the livelihood of the stakeholders in the industry. This study therefore examined the strategic revamping of the disappearing rubber industry and implications for livelihood sustainability in Delta State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted in selecting 480 respondents for the study. Structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data. Collected data were analyzed with parametric and non- parametric statistical tools. Such as mean percentage, standard deviation, frequency distribution table. Logit regression model was used to analyze the factors that influence farmers’ probability to revamp natural rubber production. The finding shows that majority of the rubber farmers (85.38%) were old (51 – 70 years), cultivated between 0.5 and 1.0 hectares (small-scale production with large family size (above 5 persons) About 76.70% of rubber farmers expressed willingness to revamp rubber plantations. Identified livelihood capitals could significantly enhance the possibility of revamping rubber production system. Subsidizing the cost of relevant inputs (seedlings), discovery of foreign markets for rubber and large scale acquisition of land by corporate organization for rubber farming were the significant strategies identified and recommended for revamping rubber industry in Delta state, Nigeria. This study has expanded the frontier of literature on rubber by emphasizing that revamping rubber production has implications for livelihood sustainability for rubber farmers and marketers in Nigeria.