Rubber trees are grown in regions that are hot and moist, that is:
in Africa (250 000 tons of natural rubber);
in Central and South America (31 700 tons of natural rubber)
in Asia, which is the chief producer (3 207 100 tons of natural rubber).
In Africa they are grown mainly in the forest regions.
In Africa the chief producers of natural rubber are:
Liberia | 100 000 tons |
Nigeria | 80 000 tons |
Zaire | 35 675 tons |
Ivory Coast | 18 000 tons |
Cameroon | 12 000 tons |
Central African Empire | 1 250 tons |
Ghana | 1 700 tons |
Mali | 1 100 tons |
Congo | 160 tons |
These production figures (for 1974) are from
the FAO Production Yearbook 1974.
To grow good rubber trees
and harvest plenty of latex,
you must:
prepare the seedlings well;
make a good plantation;
look after the plantation;
harvest the latex well.