TY  - BOOK
AU  - Dini M Das
AU  - Allan Thomas (Guide)
TI  - Technology assessment of rubber based intercropping systems (RBIS) in south Kerala 
U1  - 630.71 
PY  - 2022///
CY  - Vellayani
PB  - Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture 
KW  - Agricultural Extension
KW  - Rubber
KW  - RBIS
N1  - M Sc
N2  - The study on “Technology assessment of rubber based intercropping systems 
(RBIS) in South Kerala was undertaken with an objective to examine the evolutionary 
dynamics of horizontal diversification in rubber gardens, its technology needs and 
the decision-making factors influencing the adoption of rubber based intercropping systems 
(RBIS). Farmer's attitude toward RBIS was determined and constraints as perceived by the 
farmers pursuing RBIS were delineated. Sixty farmers practicing rubber based inter 
cropping with an area of more than 50 cents were randomly selected from rubber 
dominating agro ecological units of two districts namely Thiruvanathapuram and 
Kottayam. Farmers from AEU8, AEU9 and AEU12 with 20 farmers from each AEUs were 
the respondents selected for the study. Ten independent variables were selected through 
judge’s rating. Adoption of inter crop management practices including nutrient 
management, pest management and soil conservation measures were the dependent 
variables of study.
On analysis, 66.66 per cent of RBIS farmers belonged to middle age (35-55) ,with 
an education up to 10th (50%) and 61.67 per cent had family size up to four. Majority(70% ) 
of RBIS respondents have agriculture as primary occupation. Greater proportion (80%) of 
RBIS farmers have medium level (1.1-2.95 acre ) of total land holding. About 46.67 per 
cent of RBIS farmers had little water scarcity and 48.33 per cent had an effective 
intercropping area of 100-150 cent. Majority of RBIS farmers had medium level of 
extension participation (65%) and extension contact (65%). Over 53.33 per cent of RBIS 
farmers had above mean level of market orientation.The distribution of RBIS based on the 
dominance profile identified that banana was the most dominant intercrop based on 
numerical dominance. Majority (61.67 %) of RBIS have more than 4 level of horizontal 
diversification with a mean score value of 4.75.
The results on the extent of adoption on production and management technology 
practices for RBIS revealed that majority of RBIS respondents i.e. 61.66 per cent belonged 
to medium category followed by 21.67 and 16.67 per cent in low and high category of 
adoption. On categorization of RBIS respondents into different adopter categories as 
explained by Rogers, 30% of respondents each belonged to early majority and late majority 
category, respectively. The result of correlation coefficient between selected independent 
variable and the extent of adoption of production and management practices of intercrops 
revealed that only market orientation was significant at 5 % level of significance. On 
analyzing the different components of technology adoption by factor analysis, out of 13 
factors three factors viz., nutrient management measures, pest management measures and 
soil conservation measures explained 60.473% of the total variance. 
Intercrop wise extent of adoption of production and management practices showed 
medium level of adoption for banana (62%), cassava (64.29%), pineapple (56.52%) and 
elephant foot yam (54.28%). Result of technology need assessment revealed that RBIS 
farmers felt the need for drainage technologies (115), followed by nutrient management 
technologies (142) and irrigation technologies (153). On analyzing the decision-making 
factors influencing the adoption of RBIS, it was revealed that the distance between farmers 
residence and rubber land was the most important factor. While considering the different 
dimensions related to specialized components in rubber garden situations, income 
generation potential was considered as the major dimension with rank 1 followed by 
regularity of returns (2) and initial cost (3).
The percentage contribution from mean intercrop income to mean annual income 
was 33.14%. The result of the Karl Pearson product moment correlation between the 
percentage contribution of intercrop area and intercrop income was not significantly related. 
The result of attitude of farmers towards intercropping system pointed that 55% of the RBIS 
respondents was with neutral attitude. The major constraints experienced by the RBIS 
farmers was the high cost of labour with mean score of 2.88.
To conclude, the present study indicated that the overall extent of adoption of 
production and management technology practices of intercrops in RBIS was from medium 
to low level. This shows the need for the improvement in adoption of technology for 
production and management practices in RBIS and scaling up the adoption through suitable 
extension interventions.Attitude plays an important role in the inclusions of intercropping in 
rubber gardens. Only minority (15%) have negative attitude towards intercropping in rubber 
gardens. This shows that in future intercropping would become a common phenomenon in 
rubber gardens and technology options be made for RBIS farmers
ER  -