Optimization Of Rubber Farmer Revenue In Relation To Rainfall Fluctuations In South Sumatera

Abstract The yield of rubber plantation has a strong correlation with the amount of rainfall. Rainfall pattern in South Sumatera is not distributed evenly round the year, hence the rubber plantation production is fluctuated, especially at the peak of wet and dry season. This research aimed to determine the revenue that can be optimized by using rain guard to save yield loss on wet season as well as by adoption of rubber drought tolerant clone to increase yield on dry season. This research was conducted in Indonesian Rubber Research Institute by collecting weather data as well as rubber production in Indonesian Rubber Research Institute experimental field in the last eight years (2013 – 2021). The results of this study showed that optimal yield was achieved in wet season although some tapping days were lost due to rainfall. On the contrary, the yield was reduced to 50% on the dry season. The average of potential revenue that can be optimized during wet and dry season was equal to IDR 5,050,488/ha/year and IDR5,106,630/ha/year respectively. This potential revenue can be optimized by installing rain guard on wet season as well as adoption of rubber drought tolerance clone.