THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF RUBBER PRODUCTION ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ABSTRACT
This research study was undertaken with a view to assessing the veracity of rubber production in Ughelli Local Government Area, Edo State. Several factors were identified as causes of this trend; such as lack of capital, use of old plantations, unavailability of land, price of latex etc. a questionnaires approach was used to obtain data from the farmers in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. This was subjected to analysis based on stipulated hypothesis drawn from the questionnaires. The result of this analysis showed that lack of capital was not responsible for low production of rubber in Ughelli Local Government Area. Also, market prices of rubber products had no effect on low rubber production. However, government policies were identified as a cause of low production of rubber in Ughelli Local Government Area. Therefore, the government should promulgate policies that will encourage rubber production in Ovia North East Local Government Area and Nigeria.
TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Background of study
1.3 Purpose of study
1.4 Research questions
1.5 Hypothesis
1.6 Significance of the study
CHAPTER TWO
2.1 Literature review
CHAPTER THREE
Method of study
3.1 Research design
3.2 Population of study
3.3 Sample and sampling procedure
3.4 Instrumentation
3.5 Hypothesis
3.6 Validity and reliability of instruments
3.7 Administration of instruments
3.8 Method of data analysis
CHAPTER FOUR
4.1 Presentation of data analysis and discussion of results
4.2 Test of hypothesis
CHAPTER FIVE
5.1 Summary of Findings, Conclusion and Recommendation
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendation
REFERENCES
QUESTIONNAIRES
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Natural rubber, Para rubber, Hevea Brasiliensis, is a commercial tree economically grown in plantations. Para rubber plant is useful for the latex that bleeds from the stem in the event of wounding. The product of the coagulated latex is rubber. Rubber is used in the manufacture a number of industrial products which range from tires, balls, containers, shoes to bands and a lot of other items. Rubber is important in the socio-economic life of many tropical developing nations, such as Nigeria and Brazil. Before the 60s, before the era of the oil boom, rubber was one of the agricultural commodities that were the main stay of Nigerian economy. The cultivation of rubber provided bulk employment for the people of the then Mid-West now known as the Edo and Edo States. However, rubber is not native to Nigeria. As the name suggests, it is an introduction from Brazil.
The rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis (Muell.) is a major crop for smallholders in Nigeria and an important commercial crop everywhere. It is grown for latex production, while rubber wood is considered as a secondary product. Therefore rubber is regarded as an agricultural crop. However, recent improvements in wood technology have led to rubber tree becoming increasingly important as a source of wood products (Evans and Turnbull 2004). Rubber wood has enjoyed an environmentally friendly reputation as a raw material, because it is a by-product of latex production, and when grown in renewable plantations, it can substitute timber from natural forests.
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