Question

Short Eassy In Rubber Of Kerala

Answer 1

Explanation:

Essay # Uses of Rubber:

1. Rubber is indispensable in transport industry and used in tire and tube production.

2. It is used as insulator in electric wires and cables, gum, eraser, packaging, water-proof material, shoe making, sports goods manufacturing etc.

Essay # Geographical Conditions of Rubber:

(a) Physical Conditions:

(i) Temperature:

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Rubber is a tropical tree. It requires high temperature throughout the year — ranging between 20°-35°C, or average monthly mean of 27°C; less than 20°C temperature is detrimental.

(ii) Rainfall:

Rubber tree only grows amidst huge rainfall. The annual average rainfall between 150 to 300 cm is optimum. Rubber tree thrives well when the distribution of rainfall is uniformly high all over the year.

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(iii) Soil:

Well-drained, fertile, deep, loose loamy soil is best.

(iv) Relief:

Plain or undulating plain land with good drainage system is desirable.

(b) Economic Conditions:

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(i) Labour:

Collection of latex, preparation of rubber, nurturing of rubber tree — require huge labour, so, it is a labour-intensive economic activity.

(ii) Capital:

Laboratory experiments, research, labour wage, plantation cost, pesti­cide and transportation of product requires huge capital expenditure.

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(iii) Transport:

Good transportation network is prerequisite for export activities.

(iv) Market:

It is basically a commercial venture. So, steady demand in market en­courages rubber plantation.

Essay # Geographical Distribution of Rubber:

1. Brazil:

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Brazil is pioneer in rubber cultivation. Practically, rubber is an indigenous tree of Amazon basin. Till 1910, Brazil had a complete dominance in global rubber supply and used to contribute 99% of the world’s output! But that superiority did not last long.

The initiation of S.E. Asian rubber plantation, after the rubber seed smuggling in 1876 by Henry Wickham to Malay­sia, the decline of Brazilian rubber plantation started.

Brazil is now a insignificant producer of rubber. The reasons for the decline of Brazilian rubber cultivation are manifold—scattered location of plantation estates; inaccessibility of forests; lack of dominance of single species in forest; dearth of labour, lack of entrepreneurship; recurrence of diseases; over-exploitation of trees; increasing soil erosion and host of other reasons.

2. Thailand:

Thailand now ranks first in global rubber output. In 1996-97, the country produced nearly 1.75 million tons of rubber —28% of global total. The plantation of rubber cultivation in Thailand is a recent phenomenon. In the 1990s the country registered a big thrust in rubber cultivation. Most of the rubber plantations are located in the southern part.

3. Indonesia:

Indonesia secures second position in global rubber production. In 1996, the country produced 1.33 million tons of rubber—22% of global production. The rubber plantation in Indonesia was started by colonial Dutch planters. The remarkable adaptation of rubber trees to the local tropical climate, zeal of the local people and cheap labour availability helped Indonesia to prosper in rubber plantation.

In the late 1990s Indonesia sur­passed the production of Malaysia and secured second position, next only to Thailand. Most of the rubber plantations are confined within Java, Sumatra and Borneo islands. Indonesia is now also able to export her output.

4. Malaysia:

Malaysia was the global leader of rubber production in the 20th century. Only recently, it has lost its top position to the two neighbouring countries — Thailand and Indonesia. In 1996, the country secured third position in rubber output.

Her annual production was 1.01 million tons—16% of global output. Malaysian rubber plantation is well organized and coordinated. The country possesses both small and large plantation farms.

The initial factors which contributed the all-round growth of rubber plantations were:

(a) Favourable climatic conditions like equatorial high temperature and rainfall through­out the year.

(b) Vast virgin cheap land with highly favourable soil conditions.

(c) Sponsorship and entrepreneurship ability of British planters at the initial period and all-round governmental assistance in the later stage.

(d) Cheap local, Indian and Chinese labour force.

(e) Constant research in the Rubber Research Institute of