Communication support, resources, and structure of smallholders rubber development project and adoption of rubber technology in Taluk Kuantan Unit, Riau Province, Indonesia

The percentage levels (low and high) of knowledge about rubber technology were almost the same, but most of the farmer-participants (82.58%) had a low level of knowledge about SRDP [Smallholder Rubber Development Project] objectives. A little over one-half (56.45%) had low level of and 43.55 percent have high level of information-seeking. Majority of the SRDP participants gave little feedback to SRDP on the technology they received. Less than one-half (41.93%) had high frequency in contact with extension workers. About 83 percent were residents of that village before becoming members of the project. They perceived their areas to have adequate infrastructure. Radio was the highest rated source of agricultural information, followed by television. The participants had high aspiration in life, and were motivated by material gain and prestige. They had a positive attitude towards rubber development, and had high perception of recommended rubber technology. This study showed that aspiration was positively related to personal characteristics, knowledge of rubber technology, information seeking, contact with extension workers, condition of farm related to road, and infrastructure. Similar relationships were found between perception and personal characteristics, knowledge, communication behaviour, and infrastructure. Attitude towards rubber development was positively related to personal characteristics (except family size), knowledge of rubber technology, feedback to SRDP, contact with extension worker and infrastructure. Majority of SRDP participants (55.0%) had high adoption level of nine recommended rubber technologies, and positively related to aspiration, perception of rubber technology, and attitude towards SRDP. The study also showed that personal characteristic (educational level, farming experience, and farm size), knowledge of rubber technology, information seeking, contact with extension workers, and infrastructure were positively correlated to adoption behaviour.