Prelims: Polity (Statutory Organizations), Rubber, Rubber Board,Rubber Plantation
Mains: General Studies-II Statutory, Regulatory and various Quasi-judicial Bodies
Why in the News ?
Recently, the government has increased the allocation for Sustainable and Inclusive Development of the Natural Rubber Sector by 23% to Rs 708.7 crore for the next two financial years and the scheme is run by the Rubber Board.
Source: TFE
Key Facts 🗝️
- Rubber Board: statutory organization – Rubber Act, 1947.
- Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- HQ: Kottayam, Kerala.
- Top Rubber Producing States: Kerala > Tamil Nadu > Karnataka.
📌 FYI on Prelims:
- Rubber Plantations in India:
- Ranking:World’s largest producer and the third-largest user of natural rubber.
- Rubber Growing Areas in India:
- Traditional Areas: Primarily in Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari District and Kerala.
- Non-traditional regions: Coastal Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra’s Konkan Region, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, the northeastern provinces, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, among other places.
About:
- Rubber Board
- Functions:
- It is responsible for the development of the rubber industry in the country by assisting and encouraging research, development, extension and training activities related to rubber.
- Maintains statistical data of rubber, takes steps to promote marketing of rubber and undertake labour welfare activities.
- A crucial function of the Rubber Board is issuing licenses to rubber producers, manufacturers, and exporters/traders. This license, known as the “Rubber Board license/registration,” is mandatory for anyone involved in rubber manufacturing and export
- Structure: It is headed by a Chairman appointed by the Central Government.
- It has 28 members representing various interests of the natural rubber industry.
- The activities of the Board are exercised through Five Departments viz. General Services, Extension & Advisory Services, Research Services (rubber Research Institute of India), Training (Rubber Training Institute) & Finance.
- Natural Rubber:
- Polymer made up of a chemical molecule called isoprene.
- Native: Amazon basin which was introduced to countries in the tropical belts of Asia and Africa in the late nineteenth century.
- Climatic conditions required for Rubber:
- Rubber trees require moist and humid climates with heavy rainfall of more than 200 cm.
- It grows well in equatorial climates and temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius.
- Rubber trees require well-drained, weathered soils.
UPSC CSE EXAMS Corner
Prelims: PYQ/FAQ
Prelims: PYQ related to Topic:
Q. Which one of the following groups of plants was domesticated in the ‘New World’ and introduced into the ‘Old World’? (2019)
(a) Tobacco, cocoa and rubber
(b) Tobacco, cotton and rubber
(c) Cotton, coffee and sugarcane
(d) Rubber, coffee and wheat
Ans: a. Tobacco, cocoa and rubber
Explaination:
- New World refers to the Americas, which was discovered by Christopher Columbus during his voyage attempt to India. Old World continents during 15th century included Asia, Africa and Europe.
- Tobacco is one of the most important cash crops in American farming and is native to the North and South American continents. It first became known to the Old World when European explorers during the 15th and 16th centuries saw it being used as a medicine and as a hallucinogen by native Americans.
- Natural rubber trees originated in Southern America and from there it was introduced to the Old World. The cocoa tree is also native to the Amazon Basin, which was introduced to the Old World from New World.
- Cotton and Wheat were found in the Indus Valley Civilization. So both these crops were native of the Old World.
