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List of rubber producing countries:- 1. Indonesia 2. Other South-East Asian Producers 3. Sri Lanka and India 4. West African Producers.
1. Indonesia:
Rubber was introduced into Indonesia at the end of the nineteenth century by the Dutch for much the same reasons as the crop was brought to Malaysia. Profits to be made from rubber in the early twentieth century were very attractive and many rubber estates were established.
Since most of the land in Java was owned by peasant farmers, most of the rubber estates were set up in Sumatra. Estates were owned mainly by the Dutch and British. For many years Indonesia was the leading rubber producer and it is still the second largest producer, with an annual output of around 850,000 tonnes compared with 1,595,000 tonnes for Malaysia.
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In Indonesia, however, output has lagged behind because of political and economic instability. After independence was gained land belonging to Dutch planters was confiscated and British estates were taken over in 1963 because of British support for Malaysia during Confrontation. Estates taken over by smallholders or invaded by squatters were reduced in efficiency.
Moreover many restrictions were placed on rubber estates, and because of their earlier prosperity both estates, and smallholdings were, overtaxed and exploited. This led to a decline in productivity, a lack of improvement, research and replanting. However, since the fall of President Sukarno an attempt has been made to restore economic stability to the country and to improve agricultural production.
This sequence of events is reflected in rubber output figures. The average annual production between 1952 and 1956 was around 736,000 tonnes. This declined to only 582,000 in 1963 and figures have gradually improved since. Output only reached its former level in 1967.
2. Other South-East Asian Producers:
Rubber is also grown elsewhere in South-East Asia. Thailand is the third largest world rubber producer accounting for 12 per cent of the world total. Rubber can only be grown in southern Thailand for the seasonally dry climate in most of the country prevents rubber growing. Rubber is grown mostly by smallholders and small estate owners of Chinese extraction.
In Kampuchea most of the rubber estates were French- owned, though there was also a state-owned plantation. Rubber was grown mainly in the east of the country but production has been interrupted by the war and subsequent political instability. Rubber estates in Vietnam were also French-owned but many were abandoned because of the Vietnam War and output has steadily declined since 1963. The main rubber- growing area was to the north-east of Ho Chi Minh City.
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3. Sri Lanka and India:
When Sir Henry Wickham first obtained some seeds from Brazil, seedlings were grown in Sri Lanka and rubber has been grown there ever since, though output has always been overshadowed by South-East Asian countries. After tea, rubber is Sri Lanka’s most important export crop.
Most of the rubber is on smallholdings or on small plantations but a large proportion has been replanted with the assistance of government subsidies. In India, some rubber is grown in the south-west where the relatively well-distributed rainfall is suitable for the crop. Output is around 152,000 tonnes annually.
4. West African Producers:
Liberia, with its large American-owned Firestone estates and processing factories, was for many years the largest producer in West Africa. Rubber estates occupy 533 sq. km (251 sq. miles) and Liberia claims to have the world’s largest single plantation. Estate organization and rubber processing are highly efficient and scientifically managed.
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Rubber growing in West Africa was initiated in the 1920s when the Stevenson Restriction Scheme, aimed by the British at raising the prevailing low price of South-East Asian rubber, led to the opening-up of alternative areas by American consumers. Production in Nigeria has increased in recent years and Ivory Coast also has large efficient estates. Ghana and Zaire are minor producers.