ISBN: - 978-93-88936-09-5 smallholders, worldwide. The fundamental factors influencing NR prices are demand and supply while all other factors have indirect effects. Rubber growers have been received better prices in the world, especially at the farm gate. The low prices of rubber due to fall in industrial activity, economic showdown and recession in the country and outside. 5.2 (J) Economic importance of Rubber In India the southern state of Kerala leads the production and the marketing of rubber products with a 93 percent share of total production in the whole of the country followed by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Tripura, Assam, and Nagaland with a combined share of 7 percent. At the global level, India enjoys the third position in the production of natural rubber next to Thailand and Indonesia which occupy the first and second slots respectively. 5.2 (K) Rubber wood In recent years rubber wood has emerged as an alternate source of timber in India. It has high environmental acceptability both in domestic and International markets. Processed rubber wood has a wide range of application like furniture, panelling, table top, flooring, household article etc. A new major source of timber a rubber wood - standard common name for the timber of Hevea brasiliensis a timber obtained from SMSs, it has high environment acceptability in the global market as a substitute for other tropical timber products. The rubber wood industry has started taking rapid strides only in the past two decades. The wood has a very uniform structure and contains large vessels that are clearly visible to the naked eye. 5.2 (L) Physical properties of Rubber Wood The wood is a moderately heavy timber with density and strength fairly close to that of oak and teak. The physical properties vis-a-vis teak are shown under the table. Table 5.1 Physical properties – dry rubber wood vs. dry teak wood Property Moisture content Specific gravity Static modulus of rapture (kg\cm2) Bending modulus of elasticity (kg\cm2) Hardness, kg side End 756.0 82.0 538.0 621 Source: Asian Rubber Handbook and Directory 2005. 5.2 (M) Consumption of Rubber Wood. Consumption of rubber wood and its products has been rising steadily since the 1980’s, particularly in the US and in the European Union, since they are recognized as eco-friendly products. The demand for rubber wood may grow very fast in the coming years for reasons already cited. The wood’s potential for replacing valuable tropical timber species and relieving the pressure 133 Rubber wood Teak wood 12.0 .557 12.0 .0604 959.0 119.6 512 488
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