Rubber agroforestry options in Nigeria

Abstract

There has been drastic reduction in the involvement of smallholders in rubber production in West African countries (from 70-80% in the 1970s to less than 50% today). To revamp the production of rubber, there is need for agroforestry systems that enhance farmers’ income during the gestation period and also provide a buffer against rubber price instability in the international market. The agroforestry options developed, tested and being propagated in Nigeria include: young rubber/arable crops intercropping systems , an option which can be adopted from the time of planting rubber to when the canopy closes (6-7 years); rubber/high-value fruit trees peripheral intercropping system , where the trees are permanent crops, so they grow alongside the rubber; mature rubber/shade-tolerant spices/medicinal intercropping systems , where these crops are introduced after canopy closure and cultivation continues throughout the lifespan of rubber; and the mature rubber/mini-livestock farming system , which is also practised after the closure of rubber canopy. The result of the adoption of these technologies showed wide acceptability among farmers in the rubber-growing areas of Nigeria. However due to fear of theft, most farmers preferred to keep their min-livestock closer to the homesteads