ISBN: - 978-93-88936-09-5 5. Market share 6. Overseas market The activities of rubber marketing system are connected with the movement of rubber from the primary producers to the ultimate consumers. There are distinct differences in the primary marketing system in the small holding and the estate sectors. The marketing of natural rubber in Kerala is commonly adopted by small holders and estate sectors. Small holders and estate sector sell natural rubber to traders or dealers through a marketing channel. 5.2 OPERATIONAL TERMS USED IN MARKETING OF RUBBER 5.2 (A) Retailers The rubber market is concentrated in three Taluks consisting of many villages. In each village there are nearly 10 retail shops, each retailer will purchase up to 3 tonnes per month. Retailers operated at village level. These retailers undertake the initial working of assembling the produce from the small growers in and around their place of business. Nearly 80 per cent of the small growers dispose of their products through the retailers only 50 per cent of the retailers have the licence to deal in rubber. The retailers are stationed at important villages noted for their potentials for latex production. The only factor which influences the choice of a particular retailer is his proximity of the planters. Small growers are produce 5 to 7 sheets of rubber per day. They carry the rubber sheets to the retailers either by cycle or by head-load. Those who produce 10 to 25 sheets carry the rubber by means of mopeds or cycles. But planters who produce 25 to 100 sheets of rubber use their own vehicle and jeep for transportation purpose. . 5.2 (B) Dealers The Rubber Act, 1947 regulated the activities of the rubber dealers in India. According to the Act, rubber dealers have to take out a license from the Rubber Board for dealing in rubber. The rubber dealers can be broadly divided into three:(1)Primary dealers, (2) Middle level dealers and (3) Big level dealers Unlicensed dealers are found to be prevalent to some extent in India, though it is abolished under the Rubber Act, 1947. Unlicensed dealers usually operate at interior places. They collect rubber from small holders by visiting them periodically. (a) Primary dealers Primary dealers are operated at village level. A dealer is people who are purchases rubber between 40 and 100 tonnes per month. They are called as primary dealers. b) Middle level dealers Dealers who purchase rubber between 100 and 200 tonnes per month are the middle level dealers. Sometimes middle level dealers sell directly to the industrial consumer also. 130
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