TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of Study
1.2 Statement of Problems
1.3 Research Objectives
1.4 Research Question
1.5 Research Hypothesis
1.6 Scope of Study
1.7 Significance of study
1.8 Limitation of study
1.9 Definition of terms
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature Review
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Research methodology
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Population of study
3.3 Sampling Design and Procedure
3.4 Data Collection Instrument
3.5 Administration of Data Collection Instrument
3.6 Methods of data analysis
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Data Presentation and Analysis
4.1 Data Presentation
4.2 Test of Hypothesis
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation
5.1 Summary
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendation
References
Questionnaire
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Plantation agriculture is more than 400 years old and contributes to the regional and national countries. Agriculture is the cultivation of soil growing of crops and rearing of animals for man use. Agriculture has always been the major activity in Nigeria in general and also Edo State particularly producing a variety of food and cash crops. Agriculture is divided or categorized into three; they are subsistence agriculture, commercial agriculture and plantation agriculture.
The subsistence agriculture is practices with only crude implements, a few crops that are the cultivation. Here, the farmer grows crops for himself and his immediate family. This is done by clearing a small portion or area of land and cultivate it. The commercial agriculture is when food crops are grown for the purpose of making profit. The commercial agriculture is the combination of arable farming and animal husbandry; the people in this area produce for export market that is on commercial basis. Plantation agriculture practice in Nigeria and in Edo State in particular plantation agriculture is the growing of cash crops on a large hectare of land o a large scales. In plantation agriculture crops like cocoa rubber oil palm and shrub like cotton and coffee are grown.
Rubber is grown in Edo State and in the western states of the Nigeria. Large quantities are grown in small area like Iguorhiaki, Ehor, Irrua in Esan central Local Government Area and Ologbo in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area. Rubber (Heuea Brasiliensis) is originated from south America, belongs to the family of euphorbiaceous. It grows well on most soils that are well drained with annual rainfall of 2700-5000mm and the tree grows from 45cm at a height of 150cm from the ground. The seeds are planted at a spacing of 30cm to 30cm and later thinned to 30x60cm or 60x60cm depending on competition for nutrient. It has a smooth light grey trunk; the palmate leaves of rubber tree are alternate, each with three leaflets. The flower are monoecious and the three flower in the dry seasons, when the leaves are shaded the fruits have three seeds.
Harvesting is done when it has attained the age of 6-7 years when then tree are considered matured and have attained a girth circumference of 45cm at a height of 150cm from the ground. To open the plantation for tapping, the following materials are required.
Temperature for initial marking, collecting cups, cup hangers, spouts, tapping knife, and Sharping stone.