CAN WE CONTINUE RUBBER CULTIVATION IN KERALA

Over 90 per cent of the rubber produced in India are from Kerala. About 80 per cent of the cultivation is in small holdings. The average size of holding is about 0.5 hectares. The total area under rubber cultivation in the state was about 5.45 lakh hectares in 2015. However production of natural rubber has been declined by 15 per cent comparing to the previous year. This has been found as a trend for the past few years. There were 6,55,000 MT rubber produced in Kerala during 2014-15 which was less than 15.4 per cent from the previous years (2013-14) production of 7,74,000 MT.

Huge number people are engaged in the cultivation of rubber throughout the state of Kerala. There is also a large amount workers engaged in tapping and the related work. Many people are also working in trading of rubber sheets, finished products etc.  There are good number rubber goods production units functioning in the state for long. Altogether a large population in the state are depending upon rubber cultivation in the state.

Demand for rubber has considerably fallen in China for some time. Severe energy crisis has affected the production of many engineering firms in some European countries. These are believed to be some of the reasons for the diminished demand of rubber. Let us forget about the problems of other countries. Can India use more rubber? As far as the durability of roads are concerned cement concrete roads are designed for a life span of 20 years, the asphalt roads stands for 10 years. But in our practical experience the tarred roads stand for much less than 10 years. There are instances of tarred roads get opened out in a few months. Under this circumstance we have added rubber to tar compound and found a much improved durability. However, for strange reasons, our governments do not make any arrangements for using rubber on road construction. Rubberized asphalt in road construction can help in reducing road noise, improving skid resistance and pavement durability. Above all rubberized roads are highly cost efficient. Altogether governments can save a huge sum every year from road construction and maintenance. The entire people who are associated with cultivation, processing, trading and making products from rubber also should interfere in drawing  the attention of the state and central governments and bringing up the utilisation of rubber on roads. Alongwith this our youth should leave politics and put more efforts in finding larger markets for our rubber products across the world. Many of our youth can thereby get involved in various rubber related products and help to bring up the economic status of our state and the country.

Let us believe therefore, that rubber cultivation may not be got eroded from Kerala, instead the people and governments shall do their best to retain rubber cultivation in the state and a good amount of population remain to be economically stronger.

K V George