RUBBER INDUSTRY IN INDIA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The All India Rubber Industries Association has sought uniform GST for rubber items and thermoplastic products for automotive parts.

Natural Rubber

• About: Natural rubber is the most versatile industrial raw material of plant origin.
• Latex, the economic produce, is harvested by controlled wounding (tapping) on the bark of the rubber tree.
• Origin: The main source of natural rubber is Hevea brasiliensis, native to the Amazon river basin.
• Introduced to tropical Asia and Africa by the British Government in the late 19th century.
• Agro-climatic Conditions: The rubber tree thrives in a wide range of agro-climates and soil conditions.
• Rainfall: About 200 cm annually is ideal for its growth.

Rubber Producing Regions in India

• Cultivation Statistics: In India, 8.5 lakh hectares are under rubber cultivation.
• Regional Breakdown: Kerala and Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu contribute almost 5 lakh hectares, with 1 lakh hectares in Tripura.
• Northeastern states, especially Tripura and Assam, account for over 16% of total production.
• Global Distribution: Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Nigeria, and Brazil
• Three Zones of Rubber Cultivation:
• Traditional region: Kerala state and Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu.
• Non-traditional region: All states other than Kerala and Kanyakumari District and North East region.
• Northeastern region: Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh.