(A) Importance: (l) Rubber is an important industrial raw material.
(ii) It is consumed for making various things as mentioned below:
(a) Auto tyres and tubes- 44.5%
(b) Cycle tyres and tubes-13.3%
(c) Footwear – 11.2%
(d) Camel back- 6.0%
(e) Belts and hoses – 5.1%
(f) Latex foams – 6.l%
(g) Others – 13.8%
(B) Geographical conditions required for the growth of rubber are as given below:
(a) Rubber is an equatorial crop but it is also grown in tropical and sub-tropical areas.
(b) It requires moist and humid climate.
(c) It needs rainfall of more than 200 cm and temperature above 25°C.
(C) (a) It is grown in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Garo hills of Meghalaya.
(b) India ranks fifth among the natural rubber producers in the world.