An Evaluation of Acceptance Level of G-Flex Gas Stimulation Technology Among Rubber Smallholder - UUM Electronic Theses and Dissertation [eTheses]

II

AN EVALUATION OF ACCEPTANCE LEVEL OF G-FLEX GAS STIMULATION TECHNOLOGY AMONG RUBBER SMALLHOLDER

NUR BADRIYAH KAMARUL ZAMAN

MASTER OF SCIENCE (MANAGEMENT) UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA

2012

1

AN EVALUATION OF ACCEPTANCE LEVEL OF G-FLEX GAS STIMULATION TECHNOLOGY AMONG RUBBER SMALLHOLDER

I

A Master Project Report Submitted to College of Business Universiti Utara

an

Malaysia In Fulfillment of the Requirement for The Award of Degree of

Master of Science (Management) Universiti Utara Malaysia

am

By

:

Nur Badriyah Kamarul Zaman

ONur Badriyah Kamarul Zaman, 2012, copyright.

RESEARCHER

NUR BADRIYAH BT KAMARUL ZAMAN

PERMISSION TO USE

In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for postgraduate degree from Universiti Utara Malaysia, I agree that the university library may make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for copying of this thesis in any manner, in whole or in part, for scholarly purposes may be granted by my supervisor or, in their absence by the Dean of the Graduate School. It is understood that any copying or publication or use of this thesis or part thereof for any financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to Universiti Utara Malaysia for any scholar use which may be made of any material from my thesis. Requests for permission to copy or to make use of materials in this thesis, in whole or in part, should be addressed to

Dean of Graduate School Universiti Utara Malaysia

060 10 Sintok

Kedah Darul Aman Malaysia

iii

ABSTRAK

Penyelidikan ini adalah bertujuan untuk mengkaji faktor penyebab penerimaan teknologi rangsangan gas atau nama dagangannya adalah G-Flex. Agen-agen pengembangan iaitu Lembaga Getah Malaysia telah menjalankan pelbagai kursus dan projek bagi menjayakan setiap teknologi yang diperkenalkan. Kajian ini dijalankan bagi mengenal pasti faktor penyebab kepada penerimaan yang positif daripada pekebun kecil terhadap teknologi getah, dan dalam kajian ini lebih terturnpu kepada rangsangan gas, G-Flex. Terdapat empat objektif di mana objektif yang pertama adalah untuk mengenalpasti tahap amalan penggunaan rangsangan gas, G-Flex, dalam kalangan pekebun kecil, objektif yang kedua adalah untuk mengenalpasti sikap pekebun kecil getah terhadap kesanggupan mereka membuat perubahan dari sistem konvensional kepada sistem baru, objektif yang ketiga adalah untuk mengenalpasti tahap inovasi pekebun kecil getah dan objektif yang terakhir adalah mengenalpasti hubungkait antara hubungan yang baik pekebun kecil getah dengan agen pengembangan dan penerimaan terhadap teknologi rangsangan gas, G-Flex. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah mengumpulkan data primer iaitu dengan mengedarkan soalan kaji selidik kepada pekebun kecil getah yang telah mengaplikasikan G-Flex. Responden dipilih secara rawak dan data yang diperolehi daripada data primer telah dianalisis secara kuantitatif. Kajian ini mendapati hubungan yang baik dengan ajen pengembangan mempunyai hubungan yang positif dengan penerimaan teknologi rangsangan gas, G-Flex. Selain itu amalan Penggunaan G-Flex yang betul juga mempunyai hubungan yang positif dengan penerimaan penggunaan G-Flex. Sikap terhadap inovasi menunjukkan hubungan yang positif dengan penerimaan penggunaan G-Flex dan yang terakhir amalan pertanian yang baik juga berhubung positif dengan penerimaan penggunaan G-Flex. Kajian ini memberi manfaat kepada beberapa pihak, iaitu Kementerian Perdagangan dan Komoditi bagi merangka strategi jangka masa panjang bagi meningkatkan produktiviti getah walaupun luas tanaman getah akan dikurangkan menjelang Tahun 2020. Selain itu, kajian ini juga bermanfaat kepada agen pengembangan, pekebun kecil getah, dan golongan muda yang ingin menceburi bidang ini.

ABSTRACT

This research is to study the on factors causing the acceptance gas stimulation technology or the trade name in G-Flex. Development agents such as Malaysian Rubber Board have been conducting various courses and projects for the success of each generic technology are introduced. This study is to identify factors for the acceptance of rubber technology by rubber smallholders, and in this study focused on gas stimulation technology, G-Flex. There are four objectives to achieve in this study. First objective is to identify level of gas stimulation technology practice among rubber tappers, second objective is to identify attitude towards changes, change from conventional tapping practice to new system using gas stimulation technology, G-Flex, third objective is to identify level towards innovation and final objective is to identify the relationship between good relationship with development agent and acceptance of gas stimulation technology, G-Flex. This study used the method of collecting primary data by distributing questionnaires to the smallholders who have applied the G-Flex. Respondents were selected randomly, and data obtained from the primary data have been analyzed quantitatively.

This study found that a good relationship with the development agents had a positive relationship with the acceptance of gas stimulation technology, G-Flex. In addition to the practice of the use of proper G-Flex also has a positive relationship with the acceptance of gas stimulation technology, G-Flex. Attitude towards innovation showed a positive relationship with the acceptance gas stimulation technology; G-Flex and the last findings Good Agricultural Practice give positive relation with the acceptance of gas stimulation technology, G-Flex. These studies provide benefit to the various party, the Ministry of Trade and Commodities can formulate long- term strategy to increase productivity, while rubber plantation area will be reduced by the Year 2020. Furthermore, this study also serves to instill the development agent for the information and disseminate information to smallholders to use technology and applied it at the right way.

Secondly, it is useful to target groups of smallholders who acts as a measuring stick for the success project conducted.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Allah s.w.t, whom His willing giving me the opportunity to complete this final year Project which is titled An Evaluation of Acceptance Level of Gas Stimulation Technology of G-Flex among Rubber Smallholder. This final year project was prepared to complete the postgraduate program that lead to the Master of Science Management. Firstly, I would like to express massive thanks to my supervisor, Dr. Azizi Abu Bakar, who provided valuable advice and guidelines, and read my numerous revisions and helped make sense of confusion. I also want to thanks the staffs of Malaysian Rubber Board, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Puan Noor Farhana, Mr. Muhd Shaffiq, Cik Munirah, Cik Shafikah, Mr. Sofian, Mr. Shahiran, Cik Linda, and Cik Hamidah for their cooperation during I complete this final year project, and deepest thanks to Datin Mariyah Ahmad, as Assistant Director Of Malaysian Rubber Board, Serembm, Negeri Sembilan that had given valuable information, suggestions and guidance in the compilation of this final year project. Last but not least, my sincere gratitude to my beloved parents, En. Kamarol Zaman and Puan Bahiah for their prayers, sacrifice, supports and patient in seeing me through the whole program. Not forgetting, all my siblings, Muhd Su@an, Muhd Saffuan, Muhd Thalhah and Muhd Nadzmi.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page Signature Page Permission to Use Abstrak

Abstract

Acknowledgement Table of Content

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION

Introduction

Natural Rubber Production

Natural Rubber Policy and Production Challenges Face By Malaysia

Technology Usage Research Background Problem Statement Objective

Scope of the Study Limitation of the Study Operational Definition

1.1 1.1 Gas Stimulation Technology (G-Flex) 1.1 1.2 Technology

1.1 1.3 Development Agency 1.1 1.4 Good Agriculture Practice Theoretical Framework

Hypothesis

1.10.1 Hypothesis 1 1.10.2 Hypothesis 2 1.10.3 Hypothesis 3 1.10.4 Hypothesis 4 Conclusion

vii

1

. .

11

,..

111

iv v vi vii

CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Technology and Innovation Concept 2.2 Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) 2.3 Characteristics of Innovation

2.3.1 Differentiation 2.3.2 Compatibility 2.3.3 Tangibility

2.3.3 The Ability of Try 2.3.4 Complexity

2.4 Level of Technology Acceptance 2.4.1 Awareness

2.4.2 Interest 2.4.3 Valuation 2.4.4 Trial 2.4.5 Practice

2.5 Technology receiver category 2.5.1 Pioneer

2.5.2 Early Stage 2.5.3 Early Majority 2.5.4 Last Minority 2.5.5 Laggard 2.6 Development Agency

2.7 Development and Transfer of Technology

CHAPTER THREE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction 3.2 Research Design

3.2.1 StudyFlowChart 3.3 Study Population

3.4 Research Design

3.5 Data Collection Methods 3.5.1 Data Primer

3.5.1.1 Questionnaire 3.5.2 Secondary Information

viii

3.5.3 Research Instrument 3 2

3.6 Distribution of Questionnaire 33

3.6.1 Part B : The Tractice of Tsing Tas Stimulation

Technology (G-Flex) 33

3.6.2 Part C : Attitude Towards Innovation 3 3 3.6.3 Part D : The Practice of Rubber Plantation 33 3.6.4 Part D : The Practice of Rubber Plantation 3 4 3.6.5 Part E: Relationship with Development Agencies. 35

3.7 Conclusion 3 6

CHAPTER FOUR DATA ANALYSIS

Introduction

Part A: Demographic Demographic: Gender 4.2.2 Demographic: Age Demographic: Race

4.2.4 Demographic : Marital Status 4.2.5 Demographic: Education 4.2.6 Demographic: Status

4.2.7 Demographic: Source of Income Analysis on Part B: G-Flex Usage Practice

4.3.1 Statement 1 : I Use G-Flex According to the Instruction Till Now 4.3.2 Statement 2: I Have Changed The Rubber Cup Size to a Larger 4.3.3 Statement 3: I Used Spring and Spoon for Every Tree

Part C Analysis: Attitude Towards Innovation

4.4.1 Statement 1 : I am Interested in all Technology 4.4.2 Statement 2: Technology Can Bring Profit

4.4.3 Statement 3: I am Willing Making Changes Although Difficult 4.4.4 Statement 4: G-Flex Increase The Productivity of Rubber 4.4.5 Statement 5: G-Flex Costs are Reasonable.

4.4.6 Statement 6: G-Flex Practices are User Friendly.

4.4.7 Statement 7: I remain Using G-Flex

Part D analysis: The Practice of Rubber Plantation 4.5.1 Part D: Rubber Farm Practice

4.5.2 Part E: Relationship with Development Agent Conclusion

CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSION, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION

5.1 Introduction

Y 5.2 Discussion and conclusion 5.3 Research Implication 5.4 Suggestion

cr 5.5 Future Study

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

A scientific name of rubber tree is Heave Brazilians tree. Before its initial tapping and the beginning of income flows, it involves a five to seven years of investment periods in which planting, budding, cultivation and growth. Once it has reached a trappable age, the physical productive life of a Heave Brazilians is potentially in access of forty years; but for a variety of technical and accounting reasons. Almost of all new stands of rubber are assumed to have an economically productive life of twenty years and are so capitalize.

There are some process of the rubber tree in order its can produce latex. A rubber tree process soil elements, water and photosynthesis energy of the sun into rubber, and retains it within its inner bark as a watery solution called latex. The process of latex production is largely dependent on inputs of rainfall, soil and sunshine and represents costless per se.

However substantial costs needed for extraction of rubber which in form of labor inputs.

Extraction of rubber is accomplished by cutting a thin strip of bark from the trunk of the tree to open the latex vessels. The latex, which flows from the ruptured vessels for several hours, is channeled into small cups attached to the tree. Typically, a tappers return to a tapped tree after all flowing stopped, collects the latex, and transport it to the central processing point, which is got the licensed to process the latex by Malaysian Rubber Board. At the processing place, the rubber is coagulated with an acid and separated from

The contents of the thesis is for

internal user

only

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abdul Ghani Ibrahim (2005), Enhancingproductivity of the smallholders via integrated farming, TOT'S workshop on "Enhancing Productivity and Income of Rubber Smallholder", 4-6 April 2005. Kuala Lumpur.

Che Ahrnad Che Daud (1995), Arnalan Pengembangan RISDA Masa Kini dan Menuju Tahun 2020. Dalarn Abu Daud Silong, Maimunah Ismail & Musa Abu Hassan (Eds.).

Menangani Perubahan : Cabaran dun Tindakan Pengembangan. (ms. 60-69) Serdang : Universiti Pertanian Malaysia.

Davies, Stephen (1979). The diffusion of Process Innovations. Cambridge University Press.

Cambridge.

Davies, Stephen (1989). The diffusion of Process Innovations. Cambridge University Press.

Cambridge.

Dexter E. (1986). Strategies in the Transfer of Agricultural Technology with Reference to Northern Europe. From Jones, E.G. (Eds.), Investing in Rural Extension Strategies and Goals. London : Elsevier Applied Science Publisher.

Jabatan Perangkaan Malaysia (2002). Perangkaan Getah Bulanan Malaysia Disember 2001.

Jabatan Perangkaan Malaysia (2007). Perangkaan Getah Bulanan Malaysia Disember 200 1.

Kamus Dewan. (1994). Edisi Ketiga. Kuala Lumpur : Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

Maimunah Ismail (1990). Pengembangan : implikasi ke atas pengembangan masyarakat (2"d ed.) Kuala Lumpur. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.