Rubber Farming in India – Benefits and The Tools Used in It
Rubber farming in India is typically done in small holdings, with farmers cultivating rubber trees alongside other crops such as coconut, banana, or pepper. Rubber trees take around 6 to 7 years to reach maturity.
Rubber farming is an important agricultural activity in India, particularly in the southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. India is the fifth-largest producer of natural rubber in the world, and rubber farming provides livelihoods for millions of people in rural areas.
Rubber farming in India is typically done in small holdings, with farmers cultivating rubber trees alongside other crops such as coconut, banana, or pepper. Rubber trees take around 6 to 7 years to reach maturity, and once they start yielding, they can produce rubber for around 30 to 35 years.
Rubber farming in India has several benefits, including:
Income generation:
Rubber farming can provide a source of regular income for farmers, particularly in areas where other crops may not grow well.
Employment opportunities:
Rubber farming can create employment opportunities for people in rural areas, both in farming activities and in processing and marketing.
Export earnings:
Rubber is a valuable commodity in the global market, and India's natural rubber exports contribute to foreign exchange earnings for the country.
Sustainable agriculture:
Rubber trees are perennial, which means that they do not need to be replanted every year, making rubber farming a sustainable agriculture practice.
Environmental benefits:
Rubber trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to mitigate climate change, and can also prevent soil erosion and conserve water resources.
Tools Used in Rubber Farming
Machete:
A machete is a long, broad-bladed knife used for cutting weeds and undergrowth in the rubber plantation.
Tapping knives:
Tapping knives are used for making incisions in the bark of rubber trees to extract latex.
Collection cups:
These are small cups made of aluminium or plastic that are attached to the tapping knives to collect the latex.
Spouts:
Spouts are attached to the tapping knives to channel the latex into the collection cups.
Buckets:
Buckets are used for collecting the latex from the collection cups and transporting it to the processing shed.
Wheelbarrows:
Wheelbarrows are used for transporting tools, equipment, and rubber sheets within the plantation.
Pruning saw:
A pruning saw is used for trimming and pruning rubber trees to improve yield and growth.
Weed cutter:
A weed cutter is used to remove weeds and undergrowth from the rubber plantation.
Irrigation equipment:
Depending on the availability of water, irrigation equipment such as sprinklers or drip irrigation systems may be used to water the rubber trees.
Tractor:
In larger rubber plantations, tractors may be used for ploughing, land preparation, and transportation of rubber sheets.
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