Mechanization Status in Karaya Gum Tapping and Scope for Improvement: A Review

Abstract

Natural gums are among the important non timber forest products and are produced from a wide range of plants. Karaya gum is the dried exudate produced from Sterculia urens tree, which is an important raw material for textile, cosmetic, food, pharmaceutical and other industries. Gums are produced by exposing the gum ducts on the stem of the trees by making suitable incision. The existing tapping technique and devices are traditional, location specific, less efficient and time consuming. Tools and equipments developed for karaya gum tapping may be used to enhance productivity of the gum tappers, reduction in time of operation, drudgery and manpower requirement with increase in karaya gum production. Similarly, improved tapping technique and tools will minimize injury to the trees and help in sustainable production of gums with conservation of natural population of karaya trees. Increase in sustainable livelihood of rural and tribal people might be possible with adoption of scientific methods of karaya gum tapping to get remunerative prices of the products. The gum production systems need to be improved for efficient utilization of natural resource with higher yield and reduced manpower requirement. There is need to follow scientific methods of tapping and collection of the karaya gums in order to get remunerative prices of the products. Battery operated tools/equipments may be given preference in karaya gum tapping work especially in remote areas where electricity is a problem so that productivity of the person involved in karaya gum tapping work may be enhanced.