‘Manipur has potential for rubber plantation’
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 1 : Manipur has great potential for rubber plantation, said Dr Siju T, Production Commissioner of the Rubber Board.
According to him, rubber is being planted on 6,000 hectares of land in Jiribam and Ukhrul districts.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB), Imphal, recently organised a media tour for State journalists to Kerala.
The media team, who were part of the tour, visited the National Institute of Rubber Training in Kottayam, Kerala, where they interacted with officials and scientists.
During the interaction, Dr Siju stated that Rubber Field Stations have been established in Jiribam and Ukhrul.
Mentioning that around 4,400 farmers benefited from rubber plantations during the 2021 to 2025 period, he added that additional sites have been identified in Chandel, Kamjong, Tengnoupal, Tamenglong, Noney, Churachandpur, and Ukhrul for rubber plantations.
Compared to Kerala and Tamil Nadu, rubber plantation in North East India is still in its initial stage, he said.
He explained that the country is facing a rubber production deficit.
He explained that India produces 8.75 lakh tonnes of rubber annually, but the demand is 14 lakh tonnes, emphasising the need to increase rubber production.
Saying that the Government aims to increase rubber plantations in the North East States, he added that, as of last year, rubber has been planted on 1.5 lakh hectares of land in the region.
Dr Siju further stated that the Government plans to expand rubber plantations to 2 lakh hectares in the North East by collaborating with tire manufacturing companies.
Rubber is an eco-friendly plant, he said, adding that once planted, rubber can be harvested for around 30 years.
IMPHAL, Mar 1 : Manipur has great potential for rubber plantation, said Dr Siju T, Production Commissioner of the Rubber Board.
According to him, rubber is being planted on 6,000 hectares of land in Jiribam and Ukhrul districts.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB), Imphal, recently organised a media tour for State journalists to Kerala.
The media team, who were part of the tour, visited the National Institute of Rubber Training in Kottayam, Kerala, where they interacted with officials and scientists.
During the interaction, Dr Siju stated that Rubber Field Stations have been established in Jiribam and Ukhrul.
Mentioning that around 4,400 farmers benefited from rubber plantations during the 2021 to 2025 period, he added that additional sites have been identified in Chandel, Kamjong, Tengnoupal, Tamenglong, Noney, Churachandpur, and Ukhrul for rubber plantations.
Compared to Kerala and Tamil Nadu, rubber plantation in North East India is still in its initial stage, he said.
He explained that the country is facing a rubber production deficit.
He explained that India produces 8.75 lakh tonnes of rubber annually, but the demand is 14 lakh tonnes, emphasising the need to increase rubber production.
Saying that the Government aims to increase rubber plantations in the North East States, he added that, as of last year, rubber has been planted on 1.5 lakh hectares of land in the region.
Dr Siju further stated that the Government plans to expand rubber plantations to 2 lakh hectares in the North East by collaborating with tire manufacturing companies.
Rubber is an eco-friendly plant, he said, adding that once planted, rubber can be harvested for around 30 years.