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Feb 20 2009 | How Natural Rubber Farming Works
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Read : 1453 timesRubber is one of the main raw materials of the modern world, I don’t think you would be able to go anywhere or do anything without being influenced by a rubber product. When you wake up from your bed to start your day, you put on your rubber slippers, go to work in your rubber soled shoes, hop in a vehicle with rubber tires, text with your rubber sealed cellphone etc.
Yep rubber is everywhere. So where does rubber start? Rubber initially came from the sap of the rubber tree. The bark of the rubber tree is scarred so that the latex will flow and that is harvested into containers. Modern science however has made it possible to create synthetic rubber from oil products. But the purpose of this article will concentrate mainly on natural rubber production.
Pará rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis)
The para rubber tree initially grew in South America and over the years due to its popularity it was regrown in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, India and other parts of the world.
The tree belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae and is the most important member of the genus Hevea. It is of major economical importance because its sap-like extract, known as latex, can be collected and is the primary source of natural rubber.
The tree can reach a height of over 30m. The white or yellow latex occurs in latex vessels in the bark.
Once the trees are 5-6 years old (50 cm diameter), the harvest can begin: incisions are made every other day orthogonal to the latex vessels without harming the tree’s growth. The latex is collected in small cups found near the base of the tree.
One man is usually assigned to an area of 1 to 2 hectares. He goes around tapping the tree for it to release its latex during the morning then comes back again after a few hours to pick it up. After the collection they usually place coagulant on the cup so that the remaining dripping sap will be converted to cup lump. The cup lump is collected the following morning again when the tree is about to be tapped.
A specially made knife is used to create grooves that will maximize the flow of rubber latex to the harvesting cup.
Category : How it Works, How to, Agriculture
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I planted rubber tree about 5 hectares of my agri-land, I only need to know where do I send somebody for training on how to take care my trees and everything needed to know about this job
The department of agriculture would be the best place to ask. If you are from Mindanao, you can try the municipal agri office of the LGU in Makilala in Cotobato. They had a pilot farm there on rubber trees where they offer seminars. Not sure if it is still up though.