India is experiencing a continuous rising trend in its production of natural rubber (NR), with the total production for January 2017 showing a 26.93% increase as compared to the figures during the same period last year, according to the country’s Rubber Board.
Increase in production during the period April 2016 to January 2017 as compared to the same period last year is 14.84%. Total production in the current fiscal up to January 2017 is 565,000 tonnes whereas it was 492,000 tonnes during the same period last year.
If this trend continues, production of natural rubber during the fiscal is expected to reach the anticipated 654,000tonnes, a statement from the board said. Export of NR from the country has also increased owing to relatively high international market price. Natural rubber exports, as at February 20, is 12,000 tonnes.
The steady increase in production of NR can be attributed to improved market price and initiatives taken by the Board at field level, including mass contact programmes to improve production and productivity.
In the first phase, about 10,000 persons were trained in rubber tapping and processing. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has already approved the second phase for training another 22,000 persons in rubber tapping and processing in Kerala, Tripura, and Assam.