ISBN: - 978-93-88936-09-5 open the latex vessels in the case of trees tapped for the first time or to remove the coagulum which blocks the cut end of the latex vessels in the case of trees under regular tapping. A sharp knife is used to cut the bark to produce several downward spirally running cuts. The tapping is done usually in the morning. The Latex that oozes out of the cuts is collected in cups placed below. Each morning fresh cuts are made to collect the latex. The bark is cut in such a manner that the delicate growth layer of cambium is not damaged. Since the latex vessels run spirally to the right at an angle of 30 of vertical plane, tapping cut is made from the upper left to the lower. First a vertical cut is made in the bark in the lower portion of the tree. Sometimes a ‘V’ cut is made. The latex which flows for several hours in the forenoon is collected in a cup. The flow of latex stops by midday and therefore, cut surfaces have to be renewed each morning for several months. Generally, tapping is a process of controlled wounding during which the shaving of bark is done. Skilled tapping is necessary for the good health of the tree and for maintaining the longevity of its production period. Similarly, response to tapping system varies from clone to clone. The Rubber Board has recommended half spiral third daily tapping for reducing the panel disease. Naturally, this system of tapping tends to reduce the number of tapping days by 30 to 35 days. Selftapping is not popular in Kanyakumari. Even Small growers of rubber area below half a hectare hire labourers for tapping. Though women tappers seemed to be efficient in tapping, the share of women in the total number of tappers is very low. 4.4 IMPORTANCE OF TAPPING Tapping laborers in rubber estates are highly organized due to the activities of trade unions. There are specified rules and regulations like Plantation Labour Act regarding wage structure, terms and conditions of work, welfare measures etc. Even though more than 10 folds of tapper in the rubber estate are working in the smallholdings; there is the absence of well-defined wage rate or working conditions. Moreover, the problems of rubber tapper in the smallholdings have not been seriously taken into consideration even by the institution connected with rubber. According to the nature of trees, there are different types of tapping system, such as daily tapping system, intensive tapping, high level tapping, and controlled upward tapping, Male tappers dominate the field of tapping. Female tappers are interested more in estate tapping because there is no gender discrimination regarding wages and allowances. . On an average a tapper tapped around 250 trees per day. Most of the respondents (tappers) are working on one holding, a few respondents are tapping trees in two or three holdings and only 10 per cent of the tappers are tapping trees in their own land. 102
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