Explain rubber cultivation in India under the following heads : (A) Importance (B) Geographical conditions (C) Any two rubber producing states.
(1) Importance : Rubber is an important industrial raw material. It is consumed for making various things as mentioned below : Auto tyres and tubes – 44.5% Cycle tyres and tubes – 13.3% Footwear – 11.2% Camel back – 6.0% Belts and hoses – 5.1% Latex foam – 6.1% Others -13.8% (2) Geographical conditions required for the growth of rubber are as given below : Rubber is an equatorial crop but it is also grown in tropical and sub-tropical areas. It requires moist and humid climate. It needs rainfall of more than 200 cm and temperature above 25 °C. (3) It is grown in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Garo hills of Meghalaya. India ranks fifth among the natural rubber producers in the world.
