Rubber production registers spectacular growth

Kottayam, Nov 28 (UNI) Rubber Board Chairman Sajen Peter today said rubber plantation development in India had registered spectacular growth in production and productivity over the past 50 years.

Announcing the 'Suvarnasangham' award at a news conference here, he said the plantation area increased 6.5 times, from 94,879 hectare in 1956-57 to 6,15,200 in 2006-07. Production during the period increased from 24,060 metric tonne to 8,52,895 metric tonne and the productivity registered 5.5 times, increased from 333 kg to 1,879 kg per hectare. The total increase of production was estimated at 35 times, he said.

The Board had taken keen interest in framing schemes suited to diverse needs of the rubber plantation industry right from supply of planting materials to group processing activities and export promotion.

The extension schemes targeted for the welfare of the plantation industry, includes supply of agricultural inputs, scheme for procurement of sprayers, acquiring infrastructure for latex and sheet collection by RPSs, promotion of bee-keeping, computerization of RPSs, setting up of group processing centres by RPSs, tappers' training programmes, assistance for soil conservation and special scheme for North-East and Non-Traditional areas.

UNI