Rubber Plantation in North East India

Rubber is traditionally grown in India in the hinterlands of the South West Coast comprising of the state of Kerala and adjoining Kanyakumari District of Tamilnadu. This tract is, however, now reaching a level of saturation for rubber cultivation and the scope of further expansion of the crop is very much limited. Considering this fact, the expansion of rubber cultivation, which is of prime importance for setting up rubber production, has to take place mainly in non-traditional areas. Non-traditional areas so far identified as almost fully or marginally suitable for rubber cultivation are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, lower reaches of hills of Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura excluding the other state of India.

Although the North Eastern Region lies far outside the traditional rubber growing zone, the agro-climatic conditions obtained here are unique in as much as near tropical features are experienced in most parts owing to low elevations, exposure to monsoons and other moderating influences. The positive results obtained from trial plantations undertaken in early 1960s in the then undivided Assam and Tripura, commercial scale plantations were raised by Government Forest and Soil Conservation Departments. Public Sector Corporations set up later joined rubber planting endeavours on extensive scales. Thus while in Assam and Tripura, Public Sector Corporations are leading in the rubber plantation sector, in Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh the role has played by the State Forest and Soil Conservation Departments. Individual growers are also contributing to fast growth of rubber cultivation in this region.

Rubber has been identified as one of the thrust areas in Tripura, in view of its suitability to the terrain and the acceptability amongst the people. Studies have shown that about 1,00,000 hectares of area in the state can be brought under rubber plantation. The area under rubber cultivation at present is estimated to be about 26,500 hectares, which is the second largest, after Kerala. The yield per hectare and the quality of rubber are also comparable to Kerala's plantations. In fact, Tripura is now considered the "Second Rubber Capital of India" by the Rubber Board.

The state government has taken up an ambitious programme to significantly increase the area under rubber plantations during Tenth Plan period. The rubber production at present is about 10,000 MT, which is fast increasing, with more and more plantations reaching the tapping stage. Presently, only about 10% of rubber produced in the State locally by industrial units and remaining quantity is sold outside the State. Recently, export of rubber to Bangladesh has also started.

The availability of good quantity of high quality rubber offers ample scope for setting up of rubber-based industries in the state. The State Government is in the process of setting up a Rubber Park in order to provide necessary infrastructure of rubber-based projects.

Considering the excellent potential for rubber production in this region, the Rubber Board has taken so many positive steps including the Project for Accelerated Development of Rubber Plantation as well as Development of Infrastructure.

Another worth mentioning feature is that most of the tribal populations in the N.E. Region practiced shifting cultivation following the Slash and Burn method, locally known as ‘jhum’ cultivation causes serious soil erosion and other ecological problems. Rubber cultivation, which has already attracted large-scale participation of tribal, is proving to be an effective means of weaning away the ‘jhum’ cultivation.

The following information, provided according to the latest data, shows that Tripura tops and Assam follows the performance tally in terms of area and production. The information given below are also provides details on no. of holdings, address of growers average yield per hectare, besides area under production and annual quantity of production of Rubber sheet, Latex and Scrape.

The Rubber Board has adopted an integrated approach for rubber development in the NE region during the 10th Plan Period. The approach aimed at (a) revitalization of sick plantations and restocking of poor plantations, and (b) expansion of area under rubber and creation of processing and marketing facilities through a group approach. The rubber plantations were introduced in 2087.27 hectares in the region during 2004-05. Since rubber is a relatively new crop in the region,
strong extension support is required by the farmers to help them adopt scientific agro-management practices. The Board has been providing training to farmers, distributing inputs giving financial assistance for boundary protection, establishing group processing centers, supplying rubber rollers, rubber sheeting rollers free of cost, etc. The Board had incurred an expenditure of Rs. 13.22 crore for the rubber plantation development in the region during 2004-05. During the year 2005-06, an expenditure of Rs. 5.92 crore has been incurred up to 30th September 2005.

Source: http://commerce.nic.in/annual2005-06/englishhtml/Ch-12.htm]

The Rubber Plantation Development Scheme in North Eastern Region during the X Five Year Plan period is as follows:

Salient features:

The planting grant for new planting and replanting will be Rs.20,000/- per ha for holdings up to 5 ha. and Rs.16,000/- per ha for holdings above 5 ha. and upto 20 ha. Reimbursement shall be allowed to the cost of planting materials @ Rs.8/- per plant subject to a maximum of Rs.4,000/- per ha.

The State-wise target of New planting and Replanting

(Area in ha.)

Source: Rubber Board, Guwahati

State-wise Area and Production of Rubber

(Area in Hect./Production in Tonnes)

Source: Rubber Board, Guwahati

State-wise Share of Area and Production of Rubber in North Eastern States

(in Percentage)

Source: Rubber Board, Guwahati