ATMA, RBI meets Nagaland CS for rubber plantation in Nagaland

October 20, 2024 4 Views No Comment

Explore possible collaboration with ATMA, RBI and GoN

Kohima, October 20 (MExN): A seven member delegation from Automotive Tyre Manufacturing Association (ATMA) and Rubber Board of India (RBI) led by DG ATMA called on Nagaland Chief Secretary, J Alam, Commissioner Secretary, Land Resources Department, Kevekha Kevin Zehol and Land Resources Department officials on October 16 in Kohima and discussed the various opportunities in the Rubber sector in the state and explored the possible collaboration with ATMA, Rubber Board and Government of Nagaland.

The meeting was held at Chief Secretary’s Conference Hall, Kohima.

After a thorough deliberation, Alam said Nagas are marginal farmers and since the team were looking towards non-traditional Rubber farmers, he suggested to create the infrastructure and develop a model first where everything will be connected and come up with the best quality of Rubber sheet with RSS-1V grade since Nagaland is producing RSS-V at present.

Accordingly, in coordination with the Department of Land Resources, the team can invest for a long term where farmers will also be profited if the model succeeds, he added.

Earlier, the RBI & ATMA team highlighted that the Rubber Board under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India has been implementing a collaborative project with the financial support of Automotive Tyre Manufacturing Association (ATMA) viz Indian Natural Rubber Operations for Assisted Development (INROAD), which aims to develop 2 Lakh hectares of Rubber plantation in the Northeast India in 5 years starting from 2021.

Highlighting a brief overview of INROAD, the officials informed the state officials present that under the project, planting materials and advisories are given to the farmers free of costs and till now the project has developed more than 1 lakh hectares of Rubber plantation in NE India and in Nagaland approximately 8000 hectares of new Rubber plantation has been established under this project.

Meanwhile, in his PowerPoint presentation, Albert Ngullie, Director, Land Resources Department, Nagaland, highlighted the present status of Rubber Development in Nagaland and stated that the total area projected to be developed by 2030 is 30,000 hectares.

He informed that the Total potential area for rubber plantation in the state stands 4,10,000 hectares but upto 2023-2024 the total area developed is just 19,299 hectares, while the area under tapping is 7,974 hectares out of the 11,159 hectares area matured which is needed for tapping .