ISBN: - 978-93-88936-09-5 of 0.5 hectare. Nearly 0.7 million people are engaged in these rubber plantations as workforce either directly or indirectly. 1.2 RUBBER: Rubber is found in the fluid of some specific plants but it can also be produced synthetically. Synthetic rubber is produced through the process of polymerization of various monomers. Natural rubber is produced by the process of tapping of the plant called Hevea Brasiliensis. The rubber tree is a native of the Amazon River basin in South America. The ideal rubber growing regions should be 8 degree North of Equator, 10 degree South of Equator, and having a high temperature, an altitude not beyond 400m and a high humidity. These plants generally have 32 years of economic life but they may live up to 100 years or even more than that. The plantation would start its yield from 6th year onwards. The natural rubber produced is processed to convert into a storable and marketable form. In India, the peak season for harvesting rubber is from October to January, while the lean period is during monsoon season. The basic property of rubber is that it comes back to its original shape if it is twisted or stretched but it heat is applied to the rubber, it won’t return to its original shape easily. 1.3. HEVEA BRASILIENSIS Hevea brasiliensis is the most important commercial source of natural rubber. It is a product extracted from its latex. Natural rubber, however, has been found in the latex of over 2000 species of plants belonging to 311 genera of 79 families. The rubber tree is sturdy, quick- growing and tall. It grows on many types of soils, provided they are deep and well drained. A warm, humid, equable climate (21C to 35C) and a fairly distributed annual rainfall of not less than 200 cm are necessary for the optimum growth. The rubber trees have well developed tap root and lateral. The bark, on tapping, yields latex. 1.4 OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS 1.4 (A) Small Rubber Growers (SRG) Farmers or land owners, cultivating rubber are called rubber growers. The term 'small rubber growers' has been traditionally used to refer to an agriculturist who manages a farm that is relatively small in size. In India rubbers holding of 20 hectares and below are called 14
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