Factors behind smallholder rubber flows in Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract

This study focuses on the non-behavioural factors behind the shipment of rubber by individual smallholders in Selangor, Malaysia in 1975, It reviews commodity flow studies in geography to reveal the reasons for the particular emphasis on individual rubber smallholders. An examination is then made of the literature on rubber smallholders to isolate the main issues affecting the shipment of rubber — rubber replanting, farm fragmentation, processing and smallholder-dealer interaction. As it was not possible to tackle these issues throughout Selangor a sample of smallholders was taken, The method of sampling is described before examining each of the four key issues in turn. In studying rubber replanting attention is concentrated on non-replanters, in farm fragmentation on dual operators, in processing on government sponsored initiatives such as group processing centres and central processing factories, and in smallholder-dealer interaction on the access of government dealers. These studies are drawn together in a conclusion which reviews the varying impact of these factors on the nature and direction of flows, the felt need for comparative studies of rubber and non-rubber smallholders and the relevance of this study to the analysis of commodity flows.