socio-economic profile of rubber tappers in the small holding sector

Total 298 100
represent agriculture and animal husbandry, 8.4 percent are engaged in casual
labour(Table 3.2). Secondary and tertiary sectors absorb 11.7 percent of total employed
persons.
Majority of the sample tappers in the study area belong to the age group 40-50
years. The new generation is averse to rubber tapping. The study shows that only 6
percent of the tappers come under the age group of below 30 years.
Unemployment is high in the age group of 18-30 years. Even though sample family
members within the age group of 30-40 years are also not interested in tapping, a majority
of them are able to engage themselves in fields other than tapping.
3.3 Nature of Wage Payment
Wage rate is considered as the important determinant of labour supply. A
weakness of major standard theories of agricultural wage determination is the lack
Table 3.3
Distribution of Sample Tappers on the Basis of Wage Rate
Wage per 100 trees
(Rs.)
No. of tappers Percentage
25 132 66.00
30 30 15.00
23 5 2.50
26.5(min.wage) 12 6.00
Half of sheets 2 1.00
No specific rate 4 2.00