India’s Ministry of Commerce & Industries has taken back its promise of declaring a National Rubber Policy, refusing to make an exception for rubber alone among the other commercial crops.
The expert committee that studied the need for a policy had submitted its report in February 2016. Even though the ministry initially promised a special scheme, the declaration was postponed for several reasons.
There are 1.3 million farmers in India who are dependent on the rubber cultivation and rubber-based industries.A national policy, as promised by Commerce & Industries Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, was expected to protect their interests but has been dismissed by the ministry.
Commerce Secretary Reetha Teotiahas said that there can be no special policy for rubber while other important commercial crops, like spices, tea and coffee do not have them.
At the same time, the ministry implemented several of the recommendations enlisted in the study report outside the framework of a comprehensive policy.
The revenue insurance program has been implemented in the place of comprehensive crop insurance scheme.The ministry has also sanctioned Rs247.4 million for buying machines to increase competitiveness by producing block rubber instead of sheet rubber.
Talks are on with the Highways Ministry and Rural Development Ministry to make more rubberised roads.
Rubber saplings will be certified for quality at nurseries. The Rs17.67 billion recommendation to start rubber cultivation in the Maoist affected forests and the country’s north east is also under consideration.
Skill development and digitisation are also in full swing. Several of the recommendations in the study report, which the ministry has accepted as a reference document, can be implemented by mere administrative sanctions of the government.
The ministry has also promised that the required measures to promote the industry will be taken even in the days to come.