Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Field latex production in Southern Thailand: a study on farmers’ and traders’ practices that may affect the quality of natural rubber latex delivered to the factories

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Rubber Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Field latex is an important raw material in Thailand, produced by a large number of smallholders and handled by numerous local traders. This diversity of stakeholders involved along the production and marketing chain could result in the variability of the latex quality delivered to the factories. Latex processing industries need a raw material with consistently specified properties. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the factors that could affect latex properties. However, a complete description of the practices from the farmer to the factory is missing. Thus, a study was conducted to (1) characterise the upstream practices, (2) identify variable practices and (3) analyse farmers’ and traders’ perceptions of field latex quality that are believed to influence their practices. A survey was conducted with 398 field latex producers and 182 field latex traders distributed in eight provinces of Southern Thailand. The results showed that some agronomic practices in the mature plantations presented homogeneity (planting material, weed control, management of the inter-row of the plantations) while others (fertilisation, tapping panel treatment, harvesting practices) presented important diversity. Farmers’ and traders’ post-harvest practices presented limited sources of contamination. Nonetheless, for both stakeholders, an important possible source of variability was the quantity of latex preservative used. Finally, the analysis of the practices and the perception of the stakeholders clearly showed that field latex quality was determined both before and after harvesting. Research is still needed to analyse the impact of some agronomic practices on field latex quality. Latex traders also appeared as key stakeholders dealing with the quality.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. IRSG (2018) Rubber statistical bulletin. July-September 2018. International Rubber Study Group, Singapore

    Google Scholar 

  2. NSO (2014) 2013 Agricultural census whole kingdom. National Statistical Office. Ministry of information and communication technology, Bangkok

    Google Scholar 

  3. Besson I (2002) Le développement de l'hévéaculture en Thaïlande péninsulaire. Essai de synthèse des caractères originaux de la production de caoutchouc à partir de l'étude de la dynamique agraire d'un village malais de la province de Pattani à l'extrême sud du pays [The development of rubber cultivation in peninsular Thailand: synthesis of the original characters of natural rubber production from the study of agrarian dynamics of a Malay village in the deep South Pattani province]. PhD diss., Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon, France.

  4. Kongmanee C (2015) Path dependence of agrarian change: an institutional economic analysis of the rubber economy in Southern Thailand. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, Montpellier SupAgro, France.

  5. Chambon B, Dao XL, Tongkaemkaew U, Gay F (2018) What determine smallholders' fertilization practices during the mature period of rubber plantations in Thailand? Exp Agric 54(6):824–841

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Chambon B, Promkhambut A, Duangta K, Lesturgez G, Sainte-Beuve J (2017) Practices and quality perception of farmers producing cup coagulum in Thailand. Rubber Sci 30(3):213–225

    Google Scholar 

  7. Wisunthorn S, Chambon B, Sainte-Beuve J, Vaysse L (2015) Natural rubber quality starts at the smallholdings: farmers’ cup coagulum production in Southern Thailand. J Rubber Res 18(2):87–98

    Google Scholar 

  8. ERIA (2016) Production and distribution environment of natural rubber farmers. In: Yamamoto H (ed) Research for consideration of a policy proposal to reform the natural rubber industry’s structure and stabilise farmers’ dealing conditions in Thailand. ERIA Research Project, Jakarta, pp 24–54

    Google Scholar 

  9. RAOT (2018) Rubber year book. Rubber Authority of Thailand, Bangkok

    Google Scholar 

  10. Weerathamrongsak P, Wongsurawat W (2013) The rubber industry of Thailand: a review of past achievements and future prospects. J Agribus Dev Emerg Econ 3(1):49–63. https://doi.org/10.1108/20440831311321665

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. ISO (2010) Natural rubber latex concentrate centrifuged or creamed, ammonia preserved types – specifications, ISO 2004. https://www.sactc35.cn/upfiles/files/1511031404227117993dvjf.pdf

  12. OAE (2018) Rubber: harvested area, production, yield per rai, year 2014–2016 (year 2016 forecasting 3rd period, September 2016). Office of Agricultural Economics, Bangkok

    Google Scholar 

  13. Bélières JF, Bonnal P, Bosc PM, Losch B, Marzin J, Sourisseau JM (2015) Family farming around the world. Definition, contributions and public policies. Collection A savoir n°28. AFD, Cirad, Paris.

  14. Yip E (1990) Clonal characterization of latex and rubber properties. J Natl Rubber Res 5(1):52–80

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Moreno RMB, Ferreira M, Gonçalves PS, Capparelli Mattoso LH (2005) Technological properties of latex and natural rubber of Hevea brasiliensis clones. Sci Agric 62:122–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Galiani PD, Martins MA, Gonçalves PS, McMahan CM, Capparelli Mattoso LH (2011) Seasonal and clonal variations in technological and thermal properties of raw Hevea natural rubber. J Appl Polym Sci 112(4):2749–2755

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Liengprayoon S, Chaiyut J, Sriroth K, Bonfils F, Sainte-Beuve J, Dubreucq E, Vaysse L (2013) Lipid compositions of latex and sheet rubber from Hevea brasiliensis depend on clonal origin. Eur J Lipid Sci Technol 115(9):1021–1031

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Santipanusopon S, Riyajan SA (2009) Effect of field natural rubber latex with different ammonia contents and storage period on physical properties of latex concentrate, stability of skim latex and dipped film. Phys Procedia 2:127–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phpro.2009.06.020

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Bottier C, Gross B, Wadeesirisak K, Srisomboon S, Jantarasunthorn S, Musigamart N, Roytrakul S, Liengprayoon S, Vaysse L, Kunemann P, Vallat MF, Mougin K (2019) Rapid evolution of biochemical and physicochemical indicators of ammonia-stabilized Hevea latex during the first twelve days of storage. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 570:487–498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2019.03.028

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Philpott MW, Westgarth DR (1953) Stability and mineral composition of hevea latex. J Rubber Res Inst Malaya 14:133–148

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Collier HM, Lowe JS (1969) Effect of fertiliser applications on latex properties. J Rubber Res Inst Malaya 21(2):181–191

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Vaysse L, Sathornluck S, Bottier C, Liengprayoon S, Char C, Bonfils F, Chotiphan R, Lacote R, Gay F (2017) Effect of fertilization and stimulation of Hevea brasiliensis trees on mineral compositions and properties of produced latex and rubber.In: International Proceedings of IRC 2017, IRRDB, Jakarta, 18–20 pp: 358–369 https://ejournal.puslitkaret.co.id/index.php/proc/article/view/490/0

  23. Chotiphan R, Vaysse L, Lacote R, Gohet E, Thaler P, Sajjaphan K, Bottier C, Char C, Liengprayoon S, Gay F (2019) Can fertilization be a driver of rubber plantation intensification? Ind Crops Prod 141: 111813, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0926669019308234?via%3Dihub

  24. Zaw ZN, Sdoodee S, Lacote R (2017) Performances of low frequency rubber tapping system with rainguard in high rainfall area in Myanmar. Austral J Crop Sci 11(11):1451–1456. https://doi.org/10.21475/ajcs.17.11.11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Ferreira M, Moreno RMB, Gonçalves PS, Mattoso LHC (2002) Evaluation of natural rubber from clones of Hevea Brasiliensis. Rubber Chem Technol 75(1):171–177

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Phakagrong A, Chitprasert P, Liengprayoon S, Musigamart N, Vaysse L (2010) Influence of Ethephon stimulation on natural rubber properties. In: Proceedings of the 48th Kasetsart University Annual Conference, Bangkok, Thailand.

  27. Attanayake AP, Karunanayake L, Nilmini HRL (2017) Effect of ethephon concentration on raw rubber properties of natural rubber ; a qualitative approach. In: International Proceedings of IRC 2017,IRRDB, Jakarta, pp: 610–616, https://ejournal.puslitkaret.co.id/index.php/proc/article/view/475

  28. Cook AS, Sekar KC (1955) Volatile acids and the quality of concentrated natural latex. J Rubber Res Inst Malaya 14:407–422

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Illanchellien G (2006) The use of electrical conductimetry in examination of centrifuge natural rubber lattices. Master of Science in Polymer Science and Technology to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study in the framework of the Hevea Research Platform in Partnership (HRPP) was proposed and financially supported by Michelin/Société des Matières Premières Tropicales Pte Ltd (SMPT). The Thai International Cooperation Agency (TICA) also contributed to funding this research. The authors would like to thank the three anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions to improve the paper as well as Dr Laurent Vaysse (CIRAD) for the useful comments made on an earlier version of the paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CIRAD, UPR Systèmes de Pérennes, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand

    Bénédicte Chambon & Kanchana Duangta

  2. Systèmes de Pérennes, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier, France

    Bénédicte Chambon

  3. Khon Kaen University, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand

    Arunee Promkhambut

  4. M.F.P. Michelin-Société des Matières Premières Tropicales Pte Ltd (SMPT), Singapore, 079120, Singapore

    Gregory Lesturgez

Authors
  1. Bénédicte Chambon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kanchana Duangta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Arunee Promkhambut
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Gregory Lesturgez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bénédicte Chambon.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chambon, B., Duangta, K., Promkhambut, A. et al. Field latex production in Southern Thailand: a study on farmers’ and traders’ practices that may affect the quality of natural rubber latex delivered to the factories. J Rubber Res 23, 125–137 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42464-020-00043-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42464-020-00043-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation