Rows of rubber trees in a plantation near Ben Duoc, Vietnam.
Rubber production is on the increase in Vietnam to meet the world demand for the product. The original plantations were introduced by the French during their colonial occupation from the early 1900s onwards. After WW1 huge areas of land were given to companies by the French Government and plantations were set up. Conditions on these plantations have been described as “hell on earth” for the local workers. After the Vietnam War many of the trees had to be replaced, the old ones having been destroyed by bombing and chemical warfare in the form of Agent Orange. Rubber plants proved to be capable of growing in areas deforested by the chemicals dropped by the US. Rubber production is still a labour intensive industry with much of the work being done by hand. The trees have a productive life of 15-20 years. They are then cut down and replaced. The resulting wood provides a very eco-friendly method of timber production.
Size: 3657px × 5500px
Location: Near Ben Duoc, approximately 60 km. of Ho Chi Minh Cirt (Saigon) Vietnam
Photo credit: © Brian Hartshorn / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 15-20, duoc, employment, expanding, expectancy., industry, industry., life, plantation., rows, rubber, rural, trees., vietnam., vietnamese, years
