Introduction
Rubber plantation enterprises have been underpinning
the socio-economic security for Thailand for a century.
Thailand is among the top rubber producers in the world,
with production at approximately 2.5 million tons per
year. The exportation of rubber and rubber products
undertaken by Thai rubber industries account for more
than 1 trillion baht, and employ more than 6 million rubber
farmers. At the present, there are more than 5 million
acres of rubber plantations. It is anticipated that in
the next 20 yr, the rubber consumption of the world will
double1). In 2006, the world rubber demand was predicted
to increase 2.1%, and Thailand as a number one
exporter was expected to export rubber products at the