Agartala: Tripura has exceeded its five-year rubber plantation goal of 30,000 hectares, set under an initiative by the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA).
The state has already planted rubber on 47,747 hectares and is now targeting an ambitious expansion to 69,000 hectares, according to official reports on Sunday.
The Indian Natural Rubber Operations for Assisted Development (INROAD), launched in 2021 and supported by ATMA, aims to establish 200,000 hectares of natural rubber plantations across the Northeast and West Bengal over five years.
As part of this initiative, the Rubber Board had initially set a target of 30,000 hectares for Tripura.
“Tripura has already surpassed its five-year goal, with rubber plantations covering 47,747 hectares. We are optimistic about extending this to 69,000 hectares,” said Arunabha Majumder, Development Officer for the Rubber Board.
Although rubber plantations in Assam, Manipur, and West Bengal faced setbacks due to various challenges, Tripura has become the focal point of the initiative.
“Tripura will play a crucial role in meeting the overall target of 200,000 hectares by the end of this year, and we are focused on maximising plantation growth in the state,” Majumder added.
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With a total of 110,648 hectares under rubber cultivation, Tripura is the second-largest rubber producer in India after Kerala, producing 110,717 metric tons of natural rubber annually.
Despite these efforts, Majumder expressed concern over the limited value addition to rubber produced in Tripura.
“Less than 4% of the rubber produced in the state undergoes value addition, while around 96% is exported as sheets or latex. Only three companies are engaged in producing rubber-based products here,” he noted.
