Adoption of Clonal Rubber Agroforestry by Rubber Smallholder Farmers in Indonesia

Indonesia has the world’s largest area of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantations (3.5 million ha) and is the world’s second largest natural rubber producing country (2.7 million tons in 2007); 83% rubber area managed by smallholder farmers (<5 ha
fields)

64% rubber area still under traditional mixed system using unselected rubber seedlings (often called jungle rubber), with low latex productivity but provide multiple products and services.

Intensive monoculture rubber with high yielding rubber clones offers higher latex productivity but requires high capital and labour input.

Improved Rubber Agroforestry System or RAS developed and promoted by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) incorporates clonal rubber in traditional agroforestry setting improves latex productivity while maintaining benefits of traditional system.

RAS technology is becoming popular among smallholder rubber farmers, but its adoption is still slow and uneven; farmers cite multiple reasons for this.