“A STUDY ON THE NATURAL RUBBER FARMING TO IDENTIFY

THE CHALLENGES FOR FARMERS IN KUNDAPUR TALUK (INDIA)”

Gaurav Yadav

Natural Rubber

Is an elastomer—an elastic hydrocarbon polymer—that was originally derived from a milky colloidal suspension, or latex, found in the sap of some plants

The purified form of natural rubber is the chemical poly-isoprene .

The entropy model of rubber was developed in 1934 by Werner Kuhn.

History

Started in South America South Americans had collected rubber from a

plant named Castilla elastica. These people used to play a ball game by

making balls of rubber. It was also used in making temporary shoes,

fixing stone and metal tools to wooden handles and making water proof clothes.

It was later found that rubber was successful in erasing or rubbing the pencil marks on the paper. That's how this material got the name ‘Rubber’

Cultivation

Generally cultivated in large plantations.

The soil is generally well-drained weathered soil consisting of laterite, lateritic types, sedimentary types, non-lateritic red or alluvial soils.

Climatic conditions (a) Rainfall of around 250 cm evenly

distributed without any marked dry season and with at least 100 rainy days per annum

(b) Temperature range of about 20°C to 34°C with a monthly mean of 25°C to 28°C

(c) High atmospheric humidity of around 80%

(d) Bright sunshine amounting to about 2000 hours per annum at the rate of 6 hours per day throughout the year and

(e) Absence of strong winds.

Contd……

High-yielding clones have been developed for commercial planting.

2,000 kilograms of dry Rubber per hectare per annum, when grown under ideal conditions.

Collection

The shell of half a coconut is used as the collection container for the latex.

The cups are supported by a wire that encircles the tree.

This wire incorporates a spring so that it can stretch as the tree grows

Cont….

The latex is led into the cup by a galvanised "spout" that has been .

Tapping normally takes place early in the morning when the internal pressure of the tree is highest.

The latex, which contains 25 - 40% dry rubber, is in the bark so the tapper must avoid cutting right through to the wood

Processing

Dry Natural Rubber process Natural Rubber Latex process

Uses

Household to industrial products

Door and window profiles, hoses, belts, matting, flooring and dampeners

Gloves

Adhesives

Textile industry

Range of Products

Auto tyres Auto tubes automobile parts footwear belting hoses cycle tyres and tubes cables and wires camelback battery boxes latex products pharmaceutical goods

Advantages

An extensive plantation sector Indigenous availability of the basic raw

materials, like natural rubber, synthetic rubber, reclaim rubber, carbon black, rubber chemicals, fatty acids, rayon and nylon yarn and so on.

A large domestic market. Availability of cheap labour. Training facility in various technical institutes. On-going economic reforms. Improved living standards of the masses.

Main Sectors

tyre sector

non-tyre sector

Global Scenario of Natural Rubber –India’s Position

2nd in productivity

4th in production

4th in consumption

5th in area

Marketing of Natural Rubber

Marketing of Natural rubber is not as complex as other commodities. It involves only a few intermediaries such as:

Commission agents Traders Processors Manufacturers

Market flow of rubber involved only one or two intermediaries before reaching the factories. Market flow is only up to the company or end-users of processed rubber.

Common Marketing practices of Natural rubber

Usually farmers will make the sheets of rubber and sell it none of the respondents were selling the latex due to the fact that its price is very less compared rubber sheets.

A big farmer will own a sheet rolling machine and all the nearby farmers will use his sheet rolling machine to make rubber sheets. In return the small farmers will give one days sheet as rent.

In INDIA-Organizing for Improved Quality andMarketing Power

There is a Rubber Board consists of government agencies that provides research, extension and marketing assistance to rubber producers.

The Rubber Board had a headquarter which also serves as a training center.

World’s 4th largest producer of NR

Unique in India is the structure of production. While other countries rely on large plantations, India’s rubber producers are smallholders, averaging less than 5 ha/family.

Cont….

Processing & Quality up gradation. Aimed at improving the quality of rubber sheet produced in the region. Promote group processing & effluent treatment through financial &

technical support.

Market promotion??

Transportation assistance for input items & latex. Publication of price, participation in trade fairs & exhibitions.

Human Resource Development Training for growers, tappers, workers & other stake holders Labour welfare activities. Equipping training centres and expansion of office space and

residential buildings

Objectives

Objectives of study

To identify the implications of rubber farming practices followed by the rural farmers.

To identify the problems faced by rural farmers in marketing the natural rubber.

Research Design

Population Research Methodology Sampling Sample size- 38 Scope of the study Limitations of the study

Data Analysis, Findings and suggestions

Area under cultivation in Acres in Kundapura Taluk

18

1

Number of farmers

1 to 5 5 to 10

Area under cultivation in Acres in Narasimharajapura Taluk

6%

39%

50%

6%

Number of farmers

1 to 5 5 to 10 10 to 50 50 to 100

Number of years since tapping started among farmers of Kundapura Taluk

Less than 1 Year Between 1 to 5 Year

Between 5 to 10 Year

Between 10 to 20 Year

above 20 Year 0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1

10

6

1

0

Number of farmers

Number of farmers

Number of years since tapping started among farmers of Narasimharajapura Taluk

Less than 1 Year Between 1 to 5 Year

Between 5 to 10 Year

Between 10 to 20 Year

above 20 Year 0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

1

8 8

2

0

Number of farmers

Number of farmers

In Narasimharajapura Taluk Tapping is done by…

19

Number of farmers

SelfEmployed Worker

In Kundapura Taluk Tapping is done by…

18

1

Number of farmers

SelfEmployed Worker

If it is done by self do you have training for tapping

2

16

Number of farmers

YesNo

Average yield per 50 trees in Kundapura Taluk

Less than 1 1 to 3 3 to 5 5 to 10 More than 100

2

4

6

8

10

12

0

12

6

1

0

Number of farmers

Number of farmers

Average yield per 50 trees in Narasimharajapura Taluk

Less than 1 1 to 3 3 to 5 5 to 10 More than 100

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

0 0

2

16

1

Number of farmers

Number of farmers

fertilizers used every year in Kundapur Taluk

30-30-30 NPK Any of NPK Rotted cattle manure Compost and well rotted cattle manure

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

10

18

0

Number of farmers

Number of farmers

fertilizers used every year in Narasimharajapura Taluk

30-30-30 NPK Any of NPK Rotted cattle manure Compost and well rotted cattle manure

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

2019

0 0 0

Number of farmers

Number of farmers

Kundapura Taluk: What are the common diseases your Rubber

plantation facing?

Abnormal Leaf Fall Dry Rot, Stump Rot Collar Rot or Charcoal Rot

Shoot Rot Bird's Eye Spot 0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

5

19

16

3

Number of farmers

Number of farmers

Narasimharajapura Taluk: What are the common diseases your Rubber plantation

facing?

Abnormal Leaf Fall Dry Rot, Stump Rot Collar Rot or Charcoal Rot

Shoot Rot Bird's Eye Spot

4

0 0

5

Number of farmers

Number of farmers

Kundapur Taluk: Distance that you travel to sell natural rubber

Less than 1 Km 1 to 5 Kms 5 to 10 Kms 10 to 20 Kms More than 20 Km0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

0 0

3

15

0

Number of farmer

Number of farmer

Narasimharajapura Taluk: Distance that you travel to sell natural rubber

Less than 1 Km 1 to 5 Kms 5 to 10 Kms 10 to 20 Kms More than 20 Km0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

0

19

0 0 0

Number of farmer

Number of farmer

 Kundapur Taluk: To whom you are selling your

product

Commission agents Traders Processors Manufacturers0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

18

10 0

Number of farmers

Number of farmers

Narasimharajapura Taluk: To whom you are selling your product

Commission agents Traders Processors Manufacturers0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

0

14

4

1

Number of farmers

Number of farmers

Challenges for rubber farmers of Kundapura TalukFactor Mean

Operational difficulty due to insufficient manpower

8.32

Insufficient supply of planting material

2.61

Remoteness of plant location and poor communication facility

1.83

Occurrence of pests and diseases 3.43

Absence of price support and Unstable price/fluctuation

5.71

Price manipulation by the traders 1.21

Low product quality 7.21

Don’t have village level processing plant

4.12

Lack of storage 3.13

Challenges for rubber farmers of Narasimharajapura Taluk

Factor Mean

Operational difficulty due to insufficient manpower

1.26

Insufficient supply of planting material

7.83

Remoteness of plant location and poor communication facility

6.58

Occurrence of pests and diseases 2.48

Absence of price support and Unstable price/fluctuation

2.12

Price manipulation by the traders 8.65

Low product quality 4.21

Don’t have village level processing plant

6.38

Lack of storage 5.91

Which one of the following in last 3 years

more Demand than supply more Supply than demand Supply and Demand are equal

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

2019

0 0

Number of farmers

Number of farmers

Support needed StateGovernments

Financial support to Board for Block Planting

Support to NGOs and SHGs to start nurseries. This is a viable economic activity especially for Women SHGs.

Policy decision for allotment of suitable land for large scale planting of rubber by Private/ Government agencies.

A Nodal agency to be identified by each State Government to liaise with Rubber Board in Developmental activities.

Sanction of Central Government for posting essential staff and Allotment of land for Board’s research trials in the field

THANK YOU