Natural Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) Production and Prospects for Sustainable Economic Development in Africa

Natural Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) is a fast-growing upright tropical tree mainly cultivated for its latex production, a milky plant liquid, which defends the plant against insect intruders (Figure 10.1; 10.2). The harvested latex usually serves as a basic raw material for various products. It can be used as a “plantation crop” grown and harvested over large uniform areas (3,000 to 5,000ha) around a central treatment unit to allow for a relatively rapid industrial handling after harvesting (Verheye 2010). The globally dominant mode of rubber production is as a smallholder crop in monocultures, modified forest (agroforest), or planned mixed crop systems.

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