A Shift in Traditional Production System: A Case Study of Natural Rubber Cultivation in Tripura

In developing country like India where more than half of the population derives their livelihood from agriculture sector, sustainability of agriculture cannot be discussed in isolation to the issue related to livelihoods. In this background, the study has been conducted for examining the changing agricultural scenario of Tripura. The policy approaches has been found successful intransforming the starving economically and socially marginalized groups (ESMG) from Jhumia based cultivation to commercial cultivation of Natural Rubber (NR). Multistage probability proportion has been used for selection of 544 NR growers. The improved livelihood style of the NR growers has been reflected in terms of self-sustaining occupational shift. The maximum area of the surveyed household was previously barren land. The study has suggested for replication of the NR model in North and Dahalai district of Tripura. This successful model of Tripura could also be replicated in other regions of the country having similar socioeconomic and agro-climatic conditions to ensure rural upliftment and livelihood security of the downtrodden.