Rubber Board, in partnership with the Central government and the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association, is spearheading a project to increase the area dedicated to natural rubber in the Northeastern States, excluding Sikkim but including West Bengal.Tyre manufacturers, the primary consumers of rubber, have committed ₹1,000 crore to this five-year project that started in 2021.
Current Rubber Landscape in India
- Natural rubber is a versatile and essential raw material derived from the latex or milky sap of certain plant species, primarily the rubber tree, scientifically known as Hevea brasiliensis.
- This latex contains a complex mixture of organic compounds, with the primary component being a polymer called polyisoprene.
Growing Conditions
- Tropical climate with annual rainfall of 2000 – 4500 mm is suited for cultivation.
- It requires deep and lateritic fertile soil with an acidic pH of 4.5 to 6.0 and highly deficient in available phosphorus.
- Minimum and maximum temperature should be ranged from 25 to 34°C with 80 % relative humidity is ideal for cultivation.
- Regions prone to heavy winds should be avoided.
- Bright sunshine amounting to about 2000 hours per annum at the rate of 6 hours per day through all the months.
Rubber Production and Consumption
- India is currently the world’s fifth largest producer of natural rubber while it also remains the second biggest consumer of the material globally.(About 40% of India’s total natural rubber consumption is currently met through imports)
Rubber Distribution
- As of now, India boasts approximately 8.5 lakh hectares of rubber plantations.
- Major rubber producing states include: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Assam.
- The lion’s share of this rubber farming, nearly 5 lakh hectares, is concentrated in the southern states of Kerala and the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu.
- Additionally, Tripura contributes around 1 lakh hectares to the rubber production landscape.