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

News-CRUX-10     25th January 2024        
QEP Pocket Notes

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.
QEP Pocket Notes