Agartala: The Tripura government is set to revolutionise its rubber industry by constructing 28 state-of-the-art smoke houses to produce high-quality rubber sheets.
These facilities aim to enhance the quality of rubber sheets, significantly boosting their market value, according to an official statement on Monday.
The project, sanctioned under the Central Government’s Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme, has secured funding of Rs. 37.50 crore.
Subhasish Das, Director of Tripura’s Tribal Welfare Department, shared that the government aims to complete the initiative within six months.
“Smoke houses are pivotal in improving the quality of rubber sheets, which fetch higher prices in the market. This project will directly benefit rubber growers in the state,” Das explained.
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Tripura is the second-largest producer of natural rubber in India after Kerala, with an expansive 1,10,648 hectares under cultivation and an annual production of 1,10,717 metric tonnes.
However, only about 4% of the natural rubber produced in the state undergoes value addition, with the remaining 96% being sent out as unprocessed latex or raw sheets.
Rubber Board officials highlighted the transformative potential of the smoke houses.
“Once operational, these facilities will significantly improve the quality of rubber sheets, leading to increased earnings for local rubber growers,” they stated.
