RUBBER SECTOR IN INDIA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)
Context: The financial assistance for the Rubber sector under the ‘Sustainable & Inclusive Development of Natural Rubber Sector’ has been increased by 23% from Rs 576.41 crore to Rs 708.69 crore for the next 2 financial years (2024-25 and 2025-26).
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.
oNortheastern 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
oTraditional region: Kerala state and Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu.
oNon-traditional region: All states other than Kerala and Kanyakumari District and North East region.
oNortheastern region: Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Climate requirements
- Soil and climate: It requires deep and lateritic fertile soil with an acidic pH of 4.5 to 6.0 and highly deficient in available phosphorous.
oTropical climate with annual rainfall of 2000 – 4500 mm is suited for cultivation.
oMinimum and maximum temperature should be ranged from 25 to 34°C with 80 % relative humidity is ideal for cultivation.
oRegions prone to heavy winds should be avoided.
- Season: June – July is optimum for cultivation.
- Method of propagation: Propagated by green budding, brown budding and crown budding.
Rubber
- About: Rubber, also called latex, as initially produced, consists of polymers of the organic compound isoprene, with minor impurities of other organic compounds.
- India is the third largest producer, fourth largest consumer of natural rubber and fifth largest consumer of natural rubber and synthetic rubber together in the world.
- The share of synthetic rubber in total rubber consumption in India is around 30% while the world average is 65%.
