Aizawl: Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma has said the state has around 50,000 hectares of land suitable for rubber cultivation. He made the remarks during a visit to rubber plantations in Chungtlang village, located in the north-western Mamit district.
Lalduhoma noted that rubber is indigenous to Mizoram and its cultivation began under a government initiative in 1982.
“Before the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) came to power in December 2023, rubber was cultivated on just 3,025 hectares under various government schemes,” he said.
The chief minister added that Mizoram had approximately 50,000 hectares of land suitable for rubber cultivation and that, under the Chief Minister’s Rubber Mission, the government planned to expand plantations to 11,500 hectares over the next five years.
He also said the government has sanctioned the purchase of 100 rubber roller machines and tapping tools as part of efforts to boost production. “These initiatives are aimed at transforming Mizoram into a major rubber-producing state,” Lalduhoma added.
Officials said that about 4.5 lakh rubber saplings have already been planted on over 1,000 hectares in Mamit and Kolasib districts, which border Tripura and Bangladesh, under the Chief Minister’s Rubber Mission.
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The Land Resources, Soil and Water Conservation Department plans to plant more than 11.58 lakh saplings across 2,575 hectares in various districts during the current year. The government is also constructing approach roads to plantations, providing rubber processing equipment, and facilitating the marketing of rubber under the scheme.
