PROBLEMATIC IN THE PROCESSES OF PRODUCTION IN RUBBER PLANTATIONS (Hevea brasiliensis) Muell Arg. IN TABASCO, MEXICO

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify some of the basic problems presented in the production process in rubber plantations Hevea brasiliensis Muell Arg. in Tabasco, Mexico. The applied diagnosis technique was the randomized survey for 68 producers in plantations under rubber production. ANOVA and Duncan analyses were done (P< 0.05). Plantations under production were between 7 to 46 years old. The 24% of these are considered as young plantations (7 to 18 years old), 34% mature (19 to 30 years old), and 12% old growth (31 to 46 years old), according to the level of latex production. Latex collection is realized by 85% men and 15% women. An important detected problem is the incidence of insects and diseases over the 82% of the plantations. In Tabasco State, two types of raw material are generated: clot (solid) and latex (liquid). The tapping systems are ½ S d/1 6d/7 (one cuts in an average spiral with daily tapping) over the 49% of the plantations, and the system ½ S d/2 6d/7, cuts in semi-spirals with alternating tapping over 51% of the plantations. The producers that practiced daily tapped obtained yields of 1.588 kg per ha/yr of dry rubber, in the other hand, those that tapped every other day obtained a yield of 1.647 kg per ha/year of dry rubber. The yield in daily tapping was 3.54% lower than the system with alternating tapping. The income obtained by the producers of fresh rubber varied from $8.750, 00 (810, 2 USD) ha/year to $27.870, 00 (2.580 USD) ha/year in 2006 and the production of latex from $5.955, 00 (551, 4 USD) to 16.568,00 (1.534 USD) per ha/year.