NATURAL RUBBER

♦ Obtained from the latex of Hevea brasiliensis

♦ Native of Brazil - Introduced to India in 1873
♦ Gestation period- 6-7 yrs. Economic life – around 25 yrs.
♦ Commercial cultivation started in 1902
♦ Raw material for 35000 products in India

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 Global Scenario of Natural Rubber –
India’s Position

2nd in productivity
4th in production
4th in consumption
5th in area

Global distribution
in terms of Area (2005)
Area
(‘000 ha)
1. Indonesia 3279 Indonesia
33.7%
2. Thailand 2133
3. Malaysia 1250 Others Thailand
14.5%
4. China 600 21.9%

5. India 597
Vietnam
6. Vietnam 465 4.8%
7. Others 1396 India Malaysia
World 9720 6.1%
China 13.2%
6.2%

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 Global Distribution
in terms of Production (2005)
Production
(‘000 tonnes)
1. Thailand 2937
2. Indonesia 2271
3. Malaysia 1126
Indonesia
4. India 772 Thailand
33%
26%

5. Vietnam 469
Malaysia
6. China 428 13%
Others
Others 774 9%

World 8777
India
9%
China
5% Vietnam
5%

Average Productivity during 2005

(kg/ha/annum)
1796 (during 2005-06)
1875
1727
1483
1330
1073
862

Thailand India Vietnam Malaysia Sri Lanka Indonesia

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 Global distribution
in terms of Consumption (2005)

Consumption USA
13% Japan
(‘000 tonnes)
10%
China
23%
1. China 2045
2. USA 1159 India
3. Japan 857 9%

4. India 789 Others

41%
5. Malaysia 386
Malaysia
6. Others 3764 4%
World 9000

TRADITIONAL RUBBER GROWING

AREAS

♦ Ideally rubber grows in the region between 10o north and south of the
equator where the rain fall, humidity and temperature are high and the
elevation is below 450 meters.

♦ In India rubber is traditionally grown in Kerala and Kanyakumari

district of Tamil Nadu

♦ It is a sturdy tree that can withstand some variation in climate. Climatic

variations will be reflected in the growth and yield.

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 ♦ When land available for planting in the traditional region declined,
Board started searching for other regions suitable for rubber

♦ Exploratory surveys by the Board reveal that under scientific

agromanagement, rubber can be grown as an economically viable crop
in northeastern India.

Rubber-Growing Regions in India

(2005-06)

Area Relative share

State/UT
(ha) (%)
Kerala 494400 82.7
Tamil Nadu 18715 3.1
NE Region 58432 9.8
Karnataka 23153 3.9
Others 2710 0.5
Total 597410 100.0

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 Benefits of Rubber Planting in NE
Socio Economic Benefits
♦ Gainful self-employment and sustainable livelihood for youth
♦ Generates direct employment – around 1000 mandays /ha. during
immature phase – Permanent job for 7 persons per 10 ha. in mature
phase.
♦ Indirect employment – nursery, production and distribution of
plantation inputs, intercropping, rubber dealers, processors, rubber
wood cutting, sale, processing & furniture making.
♦ Ancillary income through honey, rubber seeds etc.
♦ Effective tribal settlement programme.
♦ Potential for export of NR/ rubber goods to neighbouring countries
when production increases.

Contd…….

Ecological Benefits

♦ Provides a green leguminous ground cover and green

umbrella above the soil
♦ Rubber tree has almost all the attributes of a forest species

♦ Purifies atmosphere through carbon sequestration

♦ Improves soil properties through addition of organic

matter, keeps the soil cool, enriches fertility, porosity &
water intake capacity.

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 STATE WISE POTENTIAL AREA &
PLANTED AREA IN NE (ha)
State/UT Potential Area planted Coverage
area (ha) (ha) (%)
Tripura 100,000 33689 33.7
Assam 200,000 14648 7.3
Meghalaya 50,000 5060 10.1
Nagaland 15,000 2274 15.2
Manipur 10,000 1829 18.3
Mizoram 50,000 507 1.0
Arunachal Pradesh 25,000 425 1.7
Total 450,000 58432 13.0

♦ Tripura is now the second largest rubber growing state in

India with 33.7% of the potential area under rubber.
♦ The State Government takes keen interest in supporting
Rubber based development programmes.
♦ Rubber is identified as a priority crop for rehabilitation
projects.
♦ Government of Tripura cooperates with the Rubber Board
in its Block Plantation projects by promptly making its
financial contribution of around 50% of the total cost.
Around 2750 tribal families could be settled through block
planting in around 3100.ha.

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♦ State Government is directly undertaking rubber plantation
projects in tribal belts, meeting the entire development cost
through S D Ms & B.D.Os.
♦ A separate agency, the TRPC, has been constituted to take
up rubber based settlement projects for tribal people.
Around 4000 tribal families have been settled by planting
rubber in about 5100.ha.
♦ The TFDPC, another state government agency has taken
up commercial planting of rubber and they have also set
apart some area for tribal settlement programmes.
♦ TTAADC is another state government agency involved in
tribal settlement through rubber planting.

♦ Government of Tripura identifies trainees and supports them

financially for undergoing various training programmes organized by
the Board.
♦ Government of Tripura is meeting 40% of the cost for setting up
Community Processing Centres with effluent treatment plants for
primary processing of latex of tribal rubber growers
♦ A Rubber Park with common facilities for setting up rubber based
industrial units is being established in Tripura by the State
Government.

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 Real success stories in Tripura
Monthly
Present Income before
Planting Area monthly
Name of grower B.P unit starting
Year Income tapping
(Rs.)
(Rs.)
Jantra Kr. Debborma K.C.Para 1996 1.20 ha 13000 500 to 700

Sudha Ch. Debborma K.C.Para 1996 2.00ha 22000 500 to 700

Lok Kishore Debborma PS Para 1995 1.00ha 14000 500 to 700

Khiralal Debborma PS Para 1995 1.65ha 25000 500 to 700

Status of Operations of the Board

Board started activities in NE by opening a Field Office in

Agartala in 1967

From 1985 onwards special schemes for rubber development in

NE with components for Development, Research & NRETC have
been in operation

Area so far planted is 58432 Ha and the annual production from

the region, 23837 MT

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 Rubber Board’s present organizational
set up in NE

♦ Zonal Office 2
♦ Regional Office 8
♦ Residential Training Centre 1
♦ Regional Research Station 4
♦ Rubber Research & Training Centre 1
♦ Field Office 16
♦ Tappers Training School 3
♦ District Development Centre 4
♦ Regional Nurseries 6

Rubber Development Scheme in NE- Evaluation

by I.I.P.M.

Major findings
♦ Effectiveness – rated as ‘Very high to high’ by beneficiaries
♦ Beneficiaries expressed ‘high value & satisfaction’
♦ People in selected areas detached their association with extremists
and participated in rubber based livelihood venture.
♦ Income level of beneficiaries across the states ranged between
Rs.75,000/- to Rs.1,25,000/- per annum
♦ Income enhancement – 200 to 300%
♦ Improved the socio economic status of the region

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 Major constraints for Rubber Development in NE.

♦ Operational difficulties due to insufficient manpower – ADRP restrictions –

Even the post of RPC, the chief coordinator of developmental activities in
the field, is vacant – IIPM also highlighted this as a serious constraint.

♦ Insufficient supply of planting materials,remoteness of planting locations &

poor communication facilities

♦ Frequent eruption of socio political disturbance and militancy – One officer

was killed and two kidnapped while on duty. A few officers have also been
injured.

♦ Area expansion in NE over the last 10 yrs

Rubber area in NE in 1997 39898 ha.
Rubber area in 2007 58432 ha
% Increase 46
♦ Extension staff reduction over the last 10 years
Field level extension officers in 1997 41
Field level extension officers in 2007 24
Extension Staff reduced by 17 nos.

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 RUBBER DEVELOPEMNT IN NE
- XI PLAN PROPOSALS
OBJECTIVES
♦ Producing more NR

♦ Socio economic development of NE region.

♦ Restoration of soil depleted through shifting cultivation

♦ Rural development through employment generation.

Strategies

♦ Expansion of rubber area & rejuvenation of sick immature

plantations.
♦ Increasing productivity from existing plantations.
♦ Economic settlement of tribal people.
♦ Addressing location specific agromanagement and processing
problems through research.
♦ Quality upgradation at primary processing level for better price for
farmers.
♦ Formation and empowerment of farmer groups.
♦ Environment/soil protection.

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Activities Proposed

New planting - 13500 Ha. will be new planted.

Replanting - 1750 Ha. will be replanted.

Integrated Village level Rubber Development

Revitalization & Restocking - To bring sick immature plantations into normal

standard of growth and stand per hectare -
1750 ha will be covered. Assistance for holdings
up to 2.00 ha only
Block planting Will be undertaken in tribal belts with
financial support from State Government
(50%).-500 Ha will be covered

Contd…

Input supply - Critical plantation inputs will be purchased by the Board and distributed
to small growers through RPS
Demonstration, NRETC, DDCs & RRTC.
Demonstration plots in farmers’ fields will be set up and NRETC,
DDCs & RRTC in Assam will be maintained.
Irrigation Proposed as a life saving mechanism for the first 3 years only.
Fencing To protect young plants from cattle and other animals
Farmer Education and Group formation
Formation and strengthening of RPSs & SHGs
Quality Planting material generation.
Board’s nurseries will be maintained as models and
Nucleus bud wood will be supplied to private nurseries.
Nurseries by RPS/SHG will be promoted

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 Research

Research priorities.

♦ Evolving high yielding and stress tolerant clones.

♦ Evolving rubber based sustainable farming models, through trials with other
crops.
♦ Evolving farming practices resulting in cost reduction and increase in yield.
♦ Studies on diseases and environmental stresses like low temperature , high altitude
through velocity of wind etc.
♦ Evolving suitable harvesting systems.

Processing & Quality upgradation.

Aimed at improving the quality of rubber sheet produced in the region.
Promote group processing & effluent treatment through financial & technical
support.

Market promotion
Transportation assistance for input items & latex.
Publication of price, participation in trade fairs & exhibitions.

Human Resource Development

Training for growers, tappers, workers & other stake holders
Labour welfare activities.
Equipping training centres and expansion of office space and residential buildings

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 Support needed from DoNER /State
Governments
♦ Financial support to Board for Block Planting
♦ Rubber may be considered as a priority crop for rehabilitation projects
♦ Support to NGOs and SHGs to start nurseries. This is a viable economic activity
especially for Women SHGs.

♦ Policy decision for allotment of suitable land for large scale planting of rubber by
Private/ Government agencies.

♦ A Nodal agency to be identified by each State Government to liaise with Rubber

Board in Developmental activities.
♦ Sanction of Central Government for posting essential staff
♦ Allotment of land for Board’s research trials in the field

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