Maybe a few of my former blog reader remember hearing about the rubber farm near the school.
The process is really interesting. First, it takes about 7-8 years before one can expect a rubber tree to produce any sap liquid. Then, the tree is cut on the trunk and the sap is directed into a small bowl. The cutting needs to happen and the bowls set up around midnight, and the liquid is then collected about five hours later.
A few years ago, this was a very profitable business. However, with the decrease in oil prices and availability of cheaper synthetic rubber, it is currently not possible to make much of a profit (if any). Therefore, many rubber trees are currently not being harvested and people are being encouraged to grow other, edible, crops instead.
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