Present status of rubber farming based inter-cropping systems in Moneragala District

This study has assessed the present status of rubber farming based inter-cropping systems in Moneragala District. Eighty-eight percent of rubber smallholdings had been inter-cropped during their immature period. Banana (Musa acuminate), maize (Zea mays), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) , groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) and vegetables were prominent among the cultivated inter-crops in rubber smallholdings. The majority of rubber smallholders used family members for up keeping of inter-crops. The major reasons for not adopting to inter-cropping were difficulty in protecting the crop from wild animals, lack of interest, distance from the residence to the rubber land and non-suitability of the land. The education level of rubber smallholders and their spouses, the experience in rubber farming, membership of the Thurusaviya rubber society, number of family members, total extent of rubber farming were positively related to the adoption on rubber farming based inter-cropping, while the age of smallholder and the spouse have negatively affected. The most of rubber smallholders highlighted that low net-return, lack of subsidy facilities to buy inputs of inter-cropping, lack of knowledge on inter-cropping systems by inter-crops as the major constraints faced by them. The rubber smallholders should be motivated and encouraged further on inter-cropping and mix cropping to increase the land productivity while improving economic stability in Moneragala.