Educating the community in an effortto improve the quality of rubber: A Case of Karang lntan constituency in Banjar District of South Kalimantan Province in Indonesia

Abstract

Accor dance with the Dry Rubber Content (KKK) standards the price of wet rubber for each kilogram ranges from Rp. 2,500.00 to Rp. 6,500.00. The price of dry rubber Ranges from 10,000.00 to Rp. 13.000,00. However, besides Karang Intan rubber: there is rubber from other areas such as Pleihari, Danau Salak, and Hulu Sungai which is purchased by factories at a higher price. Rubber from Karang lntan is of low price because of its poor quality. After an investigation, it has been established that during the processing of rubber, the faners use Urea NSP fertilizers (agricultural fertilizers) as thickener component.Using NSP fertilizer as a thickener is not bad but it affects the quality of the rubber. In this case, fi+mers of Karang lntan need to be educated about the importance of quality and how to produce quality rubber. They should know that good quality rubber leads to better rubber prices.In this regard, the district deparment of industry and trading of Banjar through Groups has attempted to provide acid ant vinegar which help sin thethickening of rubber however, continuous monitoring and education efforts are required to improve the image quality of Karang lntan rubber.