socio-economic profile of rubber tappers in the small holding sector

move to other fields of employment. Wage rate is the most important factor affecting the
supply of labour.
The shortage of tappers has not yet become a serious problem, though there is the
scarcity of skilled tappers. Besides, low wage rate, market imperfections and some
subjective factors are the determinants of labour supply.
Majority of tappers belong to the age group 40 years and more. They are not
averse to tapping. But it is very difficult to train them in scientific methods of tapping
because of their inflexibility out of overage, personal bondage with growers and their
belief that they are ‘masters of tapping’. On the contrary, the younger generation is
averse to tapping which is reflected by very low percentage of tappers below the age of
30 years.
Tapping is considered a job of low social status, especially in the case of younger
generation. So they are always trying to get out of the work on the earliest opportunity.
Only due to the absence of suitable job opportunities they continue. But the long
engagements in tapping, ignorance of other fields, lack of physical abilities etc. of the
elderly tappers make them unsuitable for other opportunities.
Adoption of rain guarding is said to have raised the number of working days. Only
below 60 percent of tappers are working in rain-guarded holdings. Moreover, the decline
in natural rubber economy has made some growers uninterested in rain guarding. On the
other hand improved tapping methods like third daily has reduced the number of tapping
days.
Traces of moral ties between grower and elderly tappers can be seen in some
holdings. On the one side, when the tapper enjoys some benefits like getting agricultural
works in the holding during non- tapping days, meals, snacks, job security etc. on the
other side, the grower or ‘patron’ is able to minimise the supervision costs because tapper
takes utmost care and shows sincerity in the work. But this personal bondage, absence of
trade union activities, recession in rubber economy etc. have reduced the bargaining