Rubber Farming in Chhattisgarh on the lines of Kerala

• 05 Apr 2023

Why in News?

On 3 April 2023, an agreement has been signed between Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh and Rubber Research Institute, Kottayam (Kerala), under which Rubber Research Institute, Kottayam will do experimental cultivation of rubber in an area of one hectare in Bastar to explore the possibilities of rubber cultivation in Chhattisgarh.

Key Points

• A Memorandum of understanding was signed by the Director (Research) of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University Dr. Vivek Kumar Tripathi and the Director (Research) of Rubber Research Institute Kottayam Dr. M.D. Jesse.
• According to this agreement, the Rubber Institute Agricultural Research Center in Bastar will provide plant material, manure-fertilizers, medicines and expenditure on labour to the Indira Gandhi Agricultural University for rubber cultivation in the one-hectare area in Bastar for a period of seven years. He will also provide necessary technical guidance for rubber cultivation and rubber extraction techniques.
• Plant management will be done by Indira Gandhi Agricultural University under the guidance of scientists from the Rubber Institute.
• Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Dr. Girish Chandel said that rubber is a highly profitable crop. In India, rubber cultivation has played an important role in making farmers prosperous in the southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu etc.
• He said that the scientists of Kottayam Rubber Research Institute have found the soil, climate, geo-ecology etc. of Chhattisgarh's Bastar region suitable for rubber cultivation and on an experimental basis rubber plants will be planted in one-hectare area. Farmers will be able to get more income from rubber cultivation here.