Rubber Production Farming System - Lake Sebu, South Cotabato

The proposed project entitled “RUBBER PRODUCTION FARMING SYSTEM” is a combination of food security intervention and a community-based livelihood initiative which supports the food security program of the government in its advent towards agricultural development. The proponent will be the SOUTH COTABATO RUBBER BASED FARMING MPC. The project will be conducted in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato with direct project partners called “farmer scholars” of about 236 registered member tribes considered as poorest small farmers who owns only one (1) hectare area and not earning enough to meet the basic needs of their family. The project caters about 1 hectare per farmer at slope of not more than 30 degrees for rolling areas.

The total budget
ONE HUNDRED NINETEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED SISTY FOUR PESOS AND EIGHTY-SIX CENTS (P119,553,464.86) will be requested from “foreign assistance” (Please see Table 10 -16: Summary on budget Allocation)

It covers production cost, administrative and operational expenses, revolving fund for nursery operations and agri-input supply, establishment of office, transportation and mobility and other logistics cost. The proposed project involves the production process of rubber production and marketing including intercrops such as cacao, banana, coconut. Based on the report of the Business Development

Division of DTI, Kidapawan City, about 80% of the world supply of natural rubber comes from ASEAN countries however, the product description of this project will be rubber cup lumps. Likewise, cacao, banana and coconut are within the first 10 agricultural crops that places great importance in the local and foreign market. Because of their huge market importance these agricultural crops have captured the attention of the government as priority crops within the thrust of the Department of Agriculture.

On the other hand, the province of South Cotabato contains a vast area of agricultural land that remains idle and unproductive. This agricultural land will be productive when planted with rubber combine with cacao, banana and coconut thru appropriate intercropping. This initiative certainly addresses and sustains the basic needs of the small farmer beneficiaries because of sure increase of income and sustainable livelihood. At the same time the project upholds the government advocacy on employment generation because of man power requirement in the course of project implementation.

Specifically, the reason why the proponent will engage in rubber production farming system in combination of cacao, banana and coconut is because of the huge industrial demand and marketability that is expected from them that provides higher income opportunity not only to the direct beneficiary but likewise to other key players on the line. 

Further, these crops have a wide range of adaptability, low investment cost, long period of productivity, environment-friendly and high compatibility in intercropping options for other cash crops thus higher farm income will be derived hence, this proposal is hereby enjoined to be approved and highly endorsed for financial domestic or foreign assistance.