Agricultural innovation and technology adoption for Melaka’s sustainable rubber industry

Aziz, Azzazurieyffa (2022) Agricultural innovation and technology adoption for Melaka’s sustainable rubber industry. Project Report. Melaka, Malaysia, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka. (Submitted)

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Abstract

The rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is the main source of natural rubber, an important raw material for industrial and non-industrial products. Various innovations of agricultural and technology adoption to rubber industry but still the rubber industry in Malaysia is not developing well. Furthermore, smallholders are the main producers of rubber. They account for 85% of global rubber production and more than 90% in Malaysia. The increased volatility in global rubber prices has caused a decline in Malaysian rubber production and this has adversely affected the lives of local smallholders. Adoption of a technology depends on the characteristics of the recipient (rubber smallholders), extension agents and the technology itself. This study develops the conceptual framework from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and technology readiness. Via interview by face to face for survey, data were collected from five farmers of rubber industry. This research explores the agricultural innovation and technology adoption for Melaka's sustainable rubber industry, whether innovation and technology adoption is related to the lack of smallholders in improving the understanding of rubber stakeholders about the effect of interaction between factors on rubber production and facilitating the formulation of smallholder-oriented policies that effective. The researcher uses qualitative methods such as interviews, some rubber tappers and relevant parties to obtain the latest information related to agricultural innovation, technology use, poverty rate issues and so on. The results showed that current policies do not effectively address issues caused by the feedback between biophysical, socioeconomic and institutional factors in the global, national and farm levels within the rubber production system. This method provides a platform to better facilitate engagement with rubber stakeholders, especially smallholders, and inform the formulation of effective smallholder-oriented policies.

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