Economics of Rubber Plantation in Mokokchung District

Background: The present study was conducted with an aim to study the socio-economic and livelihood of the rubber growers in Mokokchung district, further main objective is to provide extra income as well as generating more employment through rubber plantation. Methods: For the present research study a total of 160 respondents were selected from 8 villages, out of which, 94 respondents (58.75 per cent) were small, 50 respondents (31.25 per cent) were marginal and 16 respondents (8.00 per cent) were medium farms, respectively. Result: Gross income for marginal, small and medium farmers was ₹ 2,48,400, ₹ 6,21,000 and ₹ 9,93,600 and net income was ₹ 95,300, ₹ 4,10,797.88 and ₹ 7,46,600. About 52.50 per cent respondents were employed in government sector with an average annual income of ₹ 1,01,70,021, followed by 38.75 per cent respondents with an average annual income of ₹ 31,00,016, 5 per cent respondents were daily wage earners with an average annual income of ₹ 2,10,002 and 3.75 per cent respondents were working in private sectors with an annual income of ₹ 5,40,000. Maximum required trained labourers and hired labourers, 89.00 per cent had permanent workers and 29.00 per cent had contract labourers. Total two marketing channels were involved viz; channel I: Producer-Processor, channel II: Producer-Agent-Processor. In channel I, the marketing cost incurred by the producer was ₹ 38/kg and the marketing cost incurred by the agent was ` 27/kg. In channel II the marketinpg cost incurred by the producer was ₹ 3/kg and the marketing cost incurred by the agent was ₹ 36/kg. The major cconstraints were lack of local trained labourers, lack of government funding, lack of market, price instability, lack of training programmes and road condition.