Context:
Rubber Board unveiled 2 new initiatives to promote Rubber production.
Rubber Board:
- Statutory body under the Rubber Act 1947.
- Ministry – Ministry of Commerce & Industry
- Head Quarters – Kottayam, Kerala
- Composition – Chairman (to be appointed by the Central Government) + 28 members representing various interests of natural rubber industry.
Rubber:
- Rubber tree is a native of Amazon river basin (main source of natural rubber).
- Soil: Laterite soil with an acidic pH of 4.5 to 6.0 and highly deficient in available phosphorous.
- Rainfall and Climate: Tropical climate with annual rainfall of 2000 – 4500 mm.
- Temperature range: 25 to 34°C with 80% relative humidity is ideal for cultivation.
India’s Rubber Sector:
- India is the 3rd largest producer and 4th largest consumer of natural rubber.
- World’s leading Rubber producer – Thailand, followed by Indonesia.
- Top Producing State – Kerala produces over 90% of India’s natural rubber
- Other states – Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Tripura, Assam, and Meghalaya.
Source: TH
Previous Year Question
Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:
List-I (Board) List-II (Headquarters)
A. Coffee Board 1. Bengaluru
B. Rubber Board 2. Guntur
C. Tea Board 3. Kottayam
D. Tobacco Board 4. Kolkata
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2008 Prelims]
Code ABCD
(a) 2 4 3 1
(b) 1 3 4 2|
(c) 2 3 4 1
(d) 1 4 3 4
Answer: (b)