The government has augmented the allocation for Sustainable and Inclusive Development of Natural Rubber Sector by 23% to Rs 708.7 crore for the next two financial years. This initiative aims to boost the cultivation area of the natural rubber crop.
Scheme Details
- The scheme operates concurrently with the tenure of the 15th Finance Commission award and is administered by the Rubber Board.
- It offers subsidies for new planting and replanting of old plantations.
- The total five-year allocation for the scheme now amounts to Rs 999.86 crore.
Utilization of Funds
- Additional Secretary in the commerce ministry, Amardeep Singh Bhatia, outlined the utilization of funds:
- Supporting plantation of rubber.
- Generation of planting material.
- Productivity enhancement.
- Formation of rubber producers societies.
- Rubber research and training.
Increasing Local Production
- The government aims to reduce reliance on imports by increasing local production of rubber.
- Current local production falls short of demand, with only 8.39 lakh tonnes against the demand of 13.5 lakh tonnes.
Expansion Plans
- Planting of rubber will be expanded in both traditional and non-traditional areas.
- 12,000 ha in traditional areas will be targeted for plantation during 2024-25 and 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs 43.50 crore.
- Rate of assistance increased to Rs. 40,000 per ha.
- 3752 ha will be cultivated in non-traditional regions with an outlay of Rs 18.76 crore.
Support Measures
- Planting materials worth Rs 50,000 per ha will be supplied by the Rubber Board.
- Planting assistance at Rs 2,00,000 per ha will be provided for SC growers in non-traditional regions.
- Sponsored nurseries will be promoted in non-traditional areas for generating good quality planting material.
- An outlay of Rs 29 crore provided for rubber research in the next two years.
Promoting Rubber Producers Societies (RPS)
- Assistance for the formation of around 250 new RPSs in the next two years.
- Formation of another 1450 farmer clusters supported in non-traditional and NE regions.
- Assistance for equipment to producer organisations.
Establishment of Nodal Centers
- Proposed establishment of three nodal centres of National Institute of Rubber training (NIRT) in the NE region with an outlay of Rs 5.25 crore in the next two years.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs):
- What is the increased allocation for the Sustainable and Inclusive Development of Natural Rubber Sector?
- A) 15%
- B) 23%
- C) 30%
- D) 40%
- Answer: B) 23%
- Which organization administers the scheme for sustainable development of the natural rubber sector?
- A) Ministry of Agriculture
- B) Rubber Authority of India
- C) Rubber Board
- D) National Rubber Corporation
- Answer: C) Rubber Board
- What is the primary aim of the increased allocation for rubber cultivation?
- A) Boosting import levels
- B) Reducing reliance on imports
- C) Increasing export quotas
- D) None of the above
- Answer: B) Reducing reliance on imports
- Which regions are considered traditional areas for rubber crop cultivation?
- A) Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Northeast states
- B) Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
- C) Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan
- D) Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh
- Answer: B) Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
- What is the proposed outlay for establishing nodal centers of National Institute of Rubber training (NIRT) in the NE region?
- A) Rs 3.75 crore
- B) Rs 5.25 crore
- C) Rs 7.50 crore
- D) Rs 10.00 crore
- Answer: B) Rs 5.25 crore