MSc

An attempt was made in this study to evaluate the impact of additional incentive scheme for rubber in Assam. There were four Rubber Board Regional Offices in the State and one Zonal Office at Guwahati. All the available data were collected from the above offices. In the surveyed area, the impact of various additional incentives was studied and interpreted.
The total area brought under rubber during the Rubber Plantation Development Scheme Phase I was 645 hectares which the area increased substantially to 2405 hectares under the Phase II scheme when the additional incentives had been extended.
In additional incentives offered by the Board during Phase II were utilized to a great extent in the state. It was observed that the supply of polybags was in excess to that of budded stumps during Phase II (1985-1990). Total fifty six lakhs budded stumps were supplied free of cost under the scheme in Assam. With these plants, an area of 11,220 hectares could have been brought under rubber at a planting density of 500 plants per hectare. But the actual area brought under rubber was only 2405 hectares during the Phase II. This indicates that the establishment of budded stumps was poor and as a result, area under rubber was much less than the expected. In the surveyed area, the establishment rate of budded stumps were found to be 45 per cent at the time of planting in the field. The data collected for the whole Assam revealed that the area brought under rubber was only 20 per cent of the area that could have been actually brought under the crop with the planting materials supplied. It showed that the survival of polybagged plants may vary from region to region.
As a whole, in Assam 12,500 kgs of fertilizers, 116 MT fencing materials and 2234 kg of cover crop seeds were distributed. In the surveyed area the polybags, budded stumps, fencing materials, maintenance grant and cover crop seeds were utilized by maximum (77 to 100%) growers. It was indeed a good response from the farmers in the state. The other incentives like fertilizers, assistance for irrigation, interest subsidy, assistance for smoke house and estate requisites were not fully utilized by the growers of surveyed area. It was found that 55 per cent farmers availed irrigation facilities, 2.5 per cent farmers took advantage of the interest subsidy and nobody availed assistance for smoke house.
The supply of estate requisites was satisfactory in the state. In the surveyed area, both the farmers who had tappable rubber had utilized this facility.
During the period of phase II, an amount of Rs.32,39,309/- was released towards maintenance grant, irrigation facilities, interest subsidy and smoke house in the state. Maximum amount was released as maintenance grant (Rs.31,63,778/-).
The regular incentives released in the state amounted to Rs.117,05,421/-. In the surveyed area, an amount of Rs.4,52,551/- had been released as regular incentive.
The adoption of the scientific practices in the case of this crop was satisfactory in the studied area. It was found that more than 50 per cent of the farmers had attained knowledge and 92 per cent had adopted the scientific practices of this crop. This showed that farmers of Assam had the awareness, attitude and initiative to adopt the scientific practices for rubber cultivation.
From the study, conclusion could be derived which have a bearing on further development of rubber plantation in Assam:
1. Additional incentives may be extended during the next plan period also to bring more area under rubber in the state.
2. The supply of bags and budded stumps to individual may be restricted to actual requirements.
3. District/Block demonstration plots may be established in the area.
4. Wide publicity/advisory extension activities may be organized extensively in the state.
5. Organising of Rubber Growers Societies/ Block Plantations may be encouraged.
6. Service area of Junior Field Officers/Field Officers may be reduced and their strength increased.
There is bright prospects and future for successful development of rubber plantation in Assam provided farmers and Rubber Board take up this as a challenge. The achievement made in Phase II though not creditable is encouraging.