- North East
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Assam
- Manipur
- Meghalaya
- Mizoram
- Nagaland
- Sikkim
- Tripura
Rubber
Submitted by admin on Mon, 02/02/2009 - 12:47
India ranks third in terms of production of Natural Rubber in the World after Thailand and Malayasia. Kerala is the largest and Tripura is the second largest producer of natural rubber in the country. In Tripura rubber plants (Hevea brasiliensis) were introduced for soil and moisture conservation by Forest Department in 1963. Rubber is a tropical crop and grows well in Tripura. The species has proved excellent for permanent settlement of tribal jhumias.
Till 2009-10, about 11,622.37 hectors area is brought under by the State agencies and 39,669 82 hectors by the Rubber Board of India and therefore, totaling to 51,292.19 hectors area is actually brought under the rubber plantation The total production of rubber in the State is 26,191 MT in 2009-10.
Year wise extension in area of rubber plantation in Tripura till during 1976-77 to 2009-10:
Source: Economic Survey of Tripura 2009-10
The study conducted by the National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, as a part of exploratory study for the World Bank Assistance revealed that approximately 1 lakh hectares of land is suitable for rubber plantation in the State. This offers tremendous scope expansion of rubber plantation. Apex Bodies of Industries and Commerce like CII etc. have also realized the importance and the potential of rubber cultivation in the State. It is also proposed to engage an external agency to study the feasibility to extend rubber cultivation in an are not exceeding 10 percent of the total geographical area of the State.
The raw rubber now produced is being sent out of the State to neighbouring States for further value addition. Necessary follow-up action is also being taken to utilize the raw-rubber value added finished products within the State.
Recently a Rubber Mission has been set up by Government of Tripura for better co-ordination of all the agencies involved in taking up plantation and marketing of rubber.
Tripura Forest Development and Plantation Corporation Ltd. (TFDPC Ltd.):
The TFDPC Ltd. is the major producer of rubber in the State and it functions under the administrative control of State Forest Department. The Tripura Rehabilitation Plantation Corporation Ltd. (TRPC Ltd.) under administrative control of State Tribal Welfare Department is the 2nd largest producer of rubber in the State. TFDPC Ltd has so far raised 11,578 hectares of plantation on forest land over last 26 years. It has so far raised 3177.89 hectares of rubber for settling the tribal jhumias in the private land owned as well as scheduled caste families.
TFDPC Ltd. markets rubber in the form of ribbed smoke sheet, cenex, crepe rubber and scrap form. The production of rubber of TFDPC Ltd. in 2006-07 was 3386 MT, which sold for Rs.31.64 crores. It created mandays to the tune of 10.5 lakhs, besides giving regular employment to large number of permanent labourers for various works in processing, creation of plantations, nurseries and other related works.
TFDPC Ltd. has taken up the treatment of rubber wood for production of substitute wood to reduce the demand on forests. Treated rubber wood is similar in properties to natural teak wood and is in fashion in western world for its shining white cream colour and better properties.
A common facility centre with imported high technology based machines is in final stage of commissioning. A rubber wood factory has also been setup with a capacity of producing 80 solid wood boards per annum with finger joining technique. The TFDPC Ltd. has switched over to RMA system of grading it rubber sheets. Also it is in the process of shifting over to mechanise processing to ensure higher quality sheets and has started bio-gas plants to reduce the dependence on fuel wood. A project for door manufacturing unit has been submitted to the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, Government of India. A common facility center for Bamboo value addition for Bamboo is in progress with the assistance of JICA. There is a project by the proposal for setting up of a Bamboo Board factory with assistance of Agricultural and processed food products export development authorities.
Future rubber based industrial prospects:
|
