Annual technical report 2000 rubber agroforestry system (RAS) on-farm experimentation in Indonesia

The results obtained during the year 2000 confirmed that Rubber Agroforestry Systems (RAS) are valuable alternatives to the monoculture cultivation of rubber. Extension agencies have proposed models copying technologies from rubber estates such as intensive weeding, sowing of legume cover crops (LCC) and intensive use of inputs. This approach works if cheap credits or grants are given to farmers. Other farmers (outside development projects) cannot implement similar development due to lack of capital. Three different Rubber Agroforestry Systems (RAS) were studied in three provinces of Indonesia: West Sumatra, Jambi and West Kalimantan. Growth performances are very encouraging, as, in most cases trials will be tapped before 6 years of age. RAS plots obtained similar performances than rubber in monoculture but at lower cost (less chemical inputs and labor). The main feature of RAS is its easy acceptability by farmers, because the RAS follows current farmer practices but brings also some innovations. The different systems fits most conditions: RAS 1: System close to the traditional jungle rubber: low cost approach but environmental benefits ; RAS 2: Diversification of sources of income by association of food crops and fruit trees with rubber; RAS 3: A new approach to convert Imperata grasslands using fast growing trees between rows of rubber. (Résumé d’auteur