The agricultural technology in improving the smallholder rubber quality in Tapanuli, 1906 – 1942

Generally, the quality of smallholder rubber in Tapanuli in the colonial period showed good quality compared to other production areas in the Dutch East Indies. This region is located in the western part of Sumatra, which means it does not face directly with the center of the Southeast Asian rubber market, which is Peninsular Malaysia, especially in Penang and Singapore. Each region in Tapanuli has a characteristic type of processed rubber. These characteristics reveal from which areas the processed rubber originated, such as Mandailing-Kuken, Loka-Lokan, Smoked Sheet (in small amounts), and the one with the best quality was CrepeSheet. This study discusses agricultural technology used in connection with the efforts to improve the quality of smallholder rubber in the Tapanuli Residency in the colonial period, the agricultural technology used, and the reasons behind the need for production quality. This study employed qualitative approach through historical research methods. Both primary and secondary data were collected through observation, supplemented by visits to relevant institutions, including the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia and the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia. From the data, it can be concluded that the relatively far geographical location requires farmers to produce rubber with good quality in order to minimize transportation costs. The minimization of transportation costs is intended to benefit from the production of rubber plants. This quality assurance is carried out using simple but relatively good agricultural technology tools, such as tapping knives, latex storage devices, good latex coagulants, and slab grinding tools, to dry and fuse sheets.