Improving the productivity of rubber smallholdings through rubber agroforestry systems in Indonesia and Thailand

Improving the productivity of rubber smallholdings through rubber agroforestry systems in Indonesia and Thailand, RUBAGRIT (2004-2007)

Main responsable: Vesa Kaarakka, PhD
Period: 2004–2007
Partners: World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), Southeast Asian Regional Office, Indonesia (coordinator); Indonesian Rubber Research Institute (IRubRI); Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Thailand;
University of Helsinki, Department of Forest Ecology / VITRI; Kasetsart University, Faculty of Forestry, Thailand
Financing: Common Fund for Commodities (CFC)

Overall project objective

To enhance the productivity of traditional rubber agroforests by adapting available technology through active participation of rubber smallholders.

VITRI student focused on the possibilities of improved rubber agroforestry system (RAS) to maintain and promote biodiversity conservation and management on degraded lands of West Kalimantan, Indonesia. In addition to the biodiversity survey, farmers’ perceptions on forest regrowth in rubber agroforests was investigated.

Two master thesis works connected to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of smallholder rubber cultivation in North and Northeastern Thailand.

Master theses works by VITRI

Rantala, L. 2006. Rubber Plantation Performance in the Northeast and East of Thailand in Relation to Environmental Conditions. MSc Thesis. Department of Forest Ecology, Viikki Tropical Resources Institute, University of Helsinki. Full text

Ihalainen, L. 2007. Improved Rubber Agroforestry System Ras1 in West Kalimantan, Indonesia: Biodiversity and Farmers’ Perceptions. MSc Thesis. Department of Forest Ecology, Viikki Tropical Resources Institute, University of Helsinki. Full text

Monge, A. 2007. Economics of Rubberwood For Smallholding Owners in Traditional Rubber Production Areas in the South of Thailand. MSc Thesis. Department of Forest Economics, University of Helsinki. Full text

Kainulainen, O. 2007. Efficiency of Sawmill Operations and the Role of Smallholdings
in the Rubberwood Supply in Thailand. MSc Thesis. Department of Forest Resource Management, University of Helsinki. Full text