"Para rubber trees were first planted in Thailand (then Siam) after 1882. The cultivation expanded from 22 trees to different parts of Asia. In 1899, Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahisornpakdee (Kosimbi Na Ranong) brought the first rubber trees to Kantang, Trang Province. He trained local leaders to teach rubber planting methods, which led to widespread cultivation. This 'rubber fever' expanded to 14 provinces in southern Thailand. Today, Thailand has around 12 million rai (4.74 million acres) of rubber plantations, mainly in the south, east, and northeast."