Rubber Board

  • October 12, 2021
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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Rubber Board

Subject – Economy

Context – Rubber Board bets big on medicinal plants

Concept –

  • Intercropping of medicinal plants in rubber plantations has gained momentum with leading ayurvedic medicine manufacturing companies coming forward to take up the project by supplying necessary planting materials.
  • Through the project, the Board aims to improve the livelihood security of rubber growers and ensure continued supply of medicinal plants to the needs of the ayurvedic industry.
  • Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII) has conducted several experiments to evaluate the performance of medicinal plants in mature rubber plantations.
    • Light requiring medicinal plants such as Thechi (IxoraCoccinea), kattarvazha (Aloe Vera), Orila (DesmodiumGangeticum), Moovila (PserdarthisViscida), Neela Amari can be cultivated with rubber

About Rubber Board –

  • The Rubber Board is a statutory body constituted by the Government of India, under the Rubber Act 1947, for the overall development of the rubber industry in the country.
    • The Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, established the Rubber Board in 1947 to strengthen the development of the rubber industry by offering financial assistance, consolatory and regulatory services.
  • Head Office is in Kottayam, Kerala.
  • The Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII) established in 1955 is located on a hillock in the eastern suburb of Puthuppally, Kottayam, eight kilometres from the town.
    • There are nine research disciplines, seven Regional Research Stations, two Hevean Breeding Sub-stations and a Central Experimental Station attached to the RRII.
    • The Institute is headed by the Director (Research).
  • Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): 100% FDI in plantations of rubber, coffee, tea, cardamom, palm oil tree and olive oil tree.

Rubber –

  • India is currently the sixth largest producer of NR in the world with one of the highest productivity(694,000 tonnes in 2017-18).
  • Traditional rubber-growing states comprising Kerala and Tamil Nadu account for 81% of production.
    • Major non-traditional rubber growing regions are the North Eastern states of Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya, Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra and West Bengal.
  • Due to the major spike in the rubber consumption and deficit in the NR production in India, around 40% of NR is imported from other major rubber producing countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and China.

Conditions required for the growth of Rubber tree

  • Rubber is made from the latex of a tree called HeveaBrasiliensis, The British established the first rubber plantation in India in 1902 on the banks of the river Periyar in Kerala.
  • Rubber is a tropical tree.
  • It requires high temperature throughout the year – ranging between 20°-35°C or average monthly mean of 27°C. Less than 20°C temperature is detrimental.
  • Similarly, rubber also requires heavy rainfall.The rainfall should be well-distributed throughout the year.
  • Rubber trees can grow in a wide range of soils, including clay, sand and loam. They can tolerate both acidic and alkaline soils, but need good drainage.

National Rubber policy

  • The National Rubber Policy includes several provisions to support the Natural Rubber (NR) production sector and the entire rubber industry value chain.
  • The Policy covers new planting and replanting of rubber, support for growers, processing and marketing of natural rubber, labour shortage, grower forums, external trade, Centre-State integrated strategies, research, training, rubber product manufacturing and export, climate change concerns and carbon market
  • National Rubber Policy is based on the short term and long term strategies identified by the Task Force constituted on the rubber sector for mitigating problems faced by rubber growers in the country.
  • The Task Force held extensive consultations with various stakeholders of rubber sector.
  • The policy is expected to benefit natural rubber growers and promote the natural rubber production sector.
  • Developmental and research activities for supporting Natural Rubber sector for the welfare of growers are carried out through Rubber Board by implementing the scheme Sustainable and Inclusive Development of Natural Rubber Sector in the Medium Term Framework (MTF).
  • The developmental activities include financial and technical assistance for planting, supply of quality planting materials, support for grower forums, training and skill development programme.

To know about GM rubber, please click here.

economy Rubber Board