ISBN: - 978-93-88936-09-5 not to participate in tapping. People believe that persons of low status, especially in the case of women tappers, carry out tapping. • Actually they enter the field of tapping only when it is indispensable for keeping the standard of living of the family even at the minimum level • As far as tapping is concerned, performance of women tappers is better than that of men. However, most of the growers do not prefer women for tapping mainly due to the peculiar nature of work. It is necessary to commence tapping early in the morning, as late tapping will reduce the exudation of latex. The suitable time for tapping prescribed by Rubber Board is 4 A.M to 7 A.M. In spite of their best efforts, women tappers cannot reach the holdings within this time, because they have to attend the household works before going for tapping 6.3 (D) General Suggestions related to the Government • It has been suggested that an awareness has to be created among the growers of rubber about disease of tree, tapping, availability of bank loan, market price, quality of rubber, export of rubber sheets etc., Awareness can be created by preaching on staging mini-dramas, conducting conferences, debates, symposiums, seminars and workshops. • A large number of rubber smallholders are subsistence farmers working in small family groups. They tend to face many problems, which minimize their chance of achieving good economic returns from their holdings. • Computerization of data should be made available in rubber board regarding the rubber status of Kanyakumari District. The government should introduce a package of programmers who can make available all kinds of credit and storage facilities to the dynamic business in Kanyakumari District. • Until the rubber plant reaches the stage of tapping Govt. should bear part of cost in preparing the land and planting the rubber Govt. schemes shall be made available only to those producers who are ready to spend sufficient time for production. • The government should come forward to offer encouragement to retails and whole sales who are interested in setting up rubber business in Kanyakumari District. By simplifying the formation involved in granting licenses to the rubber they can accomplish the task. • The government should introduce a package of programmers which can make available all kinds of credit and storage facilities to the dynamic business in Kanyakumari District. 6.3 (E) Suggestions related to marketing Indian rubber sheet may be more attractive than foreign consumer by personal selling and also by arranging stalls in international trade fairs. 166
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