The story
Rubber plantations spread across central Travancore from the early twentieth century, and small farmers in Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Idukki took up the crop in large numbers after Independence. Kottayam became the trading hub for sheet rubber and the home of the Rubber Board. Dealers, processing factories and rubber-product units followed. The Rubber Research Institute of India is also based in Kottayam.
In numbers
Kerala's share of India's natural rubber production has come down from around 90% to 78% (2023).
Rubber cultivation in India — Next IAS current affairs · 2023A Rubber Cluster Development Programme common facility centre in Kottayam is listed as completed under MSE-CDP.
Completed Common Facility Centres under MSE-CDP (as on 22 Mar 2024), Office of DC-MSME · 2024
Ways in for a newcomer
- Latex-based products: gloves, balloons, threads, foam
- Rubber-moulded parts for auto and engineering buyers
- Sheet processing and smokehouse services for small growers
- Tapping training and plantation services
Problems the cluster faces
- Low and volatile rubber prices
- Competition from imported rubber
- Tapper shortage
- Shift of farmers to other crops
Businesses to start here
Rubber Bands →Rubber Balloons →Dipped Latex Products (Gloves, Tubes, Finger Stalls) →Rubber Latex Foam →Tread Rubber (Pre-cured Tread) Making →Moulded Rubber Parts for Industry (Bushes, O-Rings, Seals) →Rubber Mat Manufacturing →