India’s natural rubber (NR) production is seeing improvements this year after plunging to the lowest in nearly two decades in 2015-2016.
The first quarter has shown a 2.3% increase in NR production from a year ago as per the initial estimates, according to the Rubber Board. Following this trend, it is anticipated to touch 654,000 tonnes in 2016-2017. Last year saw the production sink to 562,000 tonnes.
The board also says that the stability in price also gives a positive signal. NR prices have been holding steady around Rs140 per kg in the market.
The board convened zonal meetings in different locations for interaction among the rubber growers, representatives of rubber producers’ societies (RPSs) and extension officers. They have initiated steps to harvest the untapped areas as part of the efforts to improve production and productivity.
The board also tried to popularise low frequency tapping under which the trees are tapped once a week as a cost reduction exercise in these hard times. Around 5,000 growers have come forward to adopt weekly tapping, while a separate scheme for starting ‘tapper bank’ through RPSs has also been initiated.