ISBN: - 978-93-88936-09-5 3.17 RUBBER CULTIVATION IN TAMILNADU Tamil Nadu ranks second in the production of natural rubber in the country and the credit goes to the Kanyakumari district (i.e.) nearly 90 percent of the rubber plantations are located in Kanyakumari district. It is the traditional Rubber growing region in the country. Since the entire plantations in the state is in this district. The district is well endowed by soil and climatic conditions which are best suited for rubber cultivation. Kerala and Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu are the traditional rubber growing regions in the country. Up to 50 per cent rubber plantations were under private enterprise 3.18 RUBBER CULTIVATION IN KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT Rubber production has been started in India before 110 years, in Kerala and Kanyakumari District. Rubber has been produced near the mountain regions but now a day’s Karnataka, Assam, Meghalaya including 17 states produced rubber. In this Kanyakumari and Kerala produce 90 percent of rubber production. In rubber board region there are 35,000 hectors rubber has been produced. In Kanyakumari nearly 25,000 tonnes rubber has been produced. There are 4,500 industries including tyre and tube factories use rubber as raw materials. Now in India nearly, 850000 tonnes per year rubber has been produced. In Kanyakumari district has geographical position is expected to face problems in marketing and distribution of rubber product. The Tamil Nadu government has not shown much interest in providing support for marketing rubber products produced in Kanyakumari district. In fact, a number of rubbers based industries soon after their establishment get sick even due to difficulties in marketing. The periodic changes in the supply – demand position in respect of industries. Rubber products are most important factor contributing to marketing problems. Another important factor is the seasonal decline in demand due to price hikes of the product necessitated by steep increase in the price of raw materials . Kanyakumari holds a dominant position both in areas of cultivation and distribution of NR in India. Rubber is one of the cash crops in the district. In Tamil Nadu rubber clove is cultivated only in Kanyakumari district. The quality of rubber produced in Kanyakumari is one of the best in the world and the yield per acre is also very high compared to other parts. In Kanyakumari district rubber is grown in about 16400 hectares and the estimated annual production is about 14000 tonnes. In the district rubber plantations are located in the Southern part and widespread along the Western Ghats in the three taluks namely Kalkulam, Vilavancode, and Thovalai. It has given ample employment opportunities and specifically in Keeriparai, Paraliyar, Manolodai, Chittar, Mylar, and Kallar areas. At an area of 4785.7 hectares rubber is planted in Kanyakumari district from 1960 onwards under the various schemes. The plantation and the number of the rubber growing units in Kanyakumari district are growing day by 81
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