MALAYSIAN RUBBER INDUSTRIES AND KENYA TEA GROWING

It’s one of the leading producers of rubber around the world. Large positions of land area are under rubber growing part of the crop is grown on the plantation while the rest is grown on smallholding.

The plantations are mostly owned by Europeans and the smaller ones by the Chinese while Malaysians own a very small percentage of the estate area.

Factors that have favored the growing of rubber

High monthly temperatures between 25-28oc. Annual rainfalls should range between 1800, 3000mm with no month receiving less than 750mm.

Well-drained soils although not very fertile.

The rubber growing areas are highly accessible with a network of roads and always. These areas are also near to the sea with deep labors such as Penang and Swettenham.

There is the availability of enough land since most of the rubber growing areas are almost inhabited.

Cheap and plenty of labor which is obtained from southern Asia (India).

Availability of capital from the Europeans and which estate owners

TEA GROWING IN KENYA

This is the second most important crop contributing to more than 15% of the country’s export earnings.

Most of the plantations were owned by the Europeans i.e. Brooke bond Company but most of the estate have now been taken over by the government.

The main tea growing areas include Kericho, Limuru and Kiambu districts which have more than 10 factories.

Tea is also grown in Nandi hills on plantations by small scale farmers in areas like Kiisi, Nyeri and Kakamega districts.

The tea estates and plantations are under the Kenya development authority which provides advisory services and arranges from the processing and marketing of the crop especially to the out-growers.

KERICHO TEA ESTATE

This is well situated for the growth of the eastern region and is under the management of Europeans.

FACTORS FAVOURING GROWTH OF TEA

-High altitude of about 2000 meters

-High rainfall of about 1800mm per annum especially during the growing period

-Gently sloping land which ensures proper drainage and reduces root rotting

-Availability of labour both skilled and unskilled labour i.e. the ones to harvest (tea picking), clerks and mangers

-Availability of capital which has ensured high levels of mechanization whereby some of the tea is harvested by use of machines.

-Easy transport and communication which has made area accessible for easy reach

 PROBLEMS

-Pests and diseases e.g.  Root Competition from other producing areas i.e. Brazil, Sir lank.

-Soil exhaustion due to monoculture

-Price fluctuation due to overproduction and competition from others

-Natural hazards like hailstorms which damage the tea leaves.

 SOLUTIONS

Use of pest sides

-Applying fertilizers (fallowing)

-Diversification of the economy i.e. by carrying out cattle keeping

-Cloud seeding

Key

KTPA

KIPA

Roads

Main small holder’s tea growing areas

EXTENSIVE GRAIN MECHANICAL CULTIVATION

It’s mostly practiced on the North American prairies, Argentina poupus. The steep of Eurasia and South American yields (temperate grasslands)

Characteristic features:

• Extensive farms

These are very large and this is because land easily available in America, they are owned by individuals while in socialist countries .they are owned by a collective basis.

• Highly mechanism:

From ploughing to harvesting the work is done by machines. The farmers invest heavily in labor-saving devices.

For example,

-tractors,

-ploughing

-combine harvesters

-storage elevators

-used for storing the grain.

• Monoculture: traditionally

Wheat is the principle crop but other crops like oats, maize, barley and rye are grown. New strains of wheat that can withstand droughts and cold are being introduced. Some farms also keep animals.

High output per month but low output per unit area. Because of extensive lands, a lot of wheat is produced resulting into surplus. As a result of this, these areas are called the granaries of the world.