DIMAPUR — Automotive Tyre Manufacturers' Association (ATMA) and Rubber Board, Government of India, which is in the process of expanding 2 lakh hectares under rubber plantation in the entire Northeast except Sikkim, visited rubber nursery in Vihokhu village under Niuland district managed by Toka Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd., on Friday.
Interacting with media persons, the executive director of Rubber Board of India, M Vasanthagesan, said that Nagaland has lot of potential in the rubber sector. He mentioned that Nagaland produces 20,000 metric ton rubber per year, however good a number of trees are untapped, which is crucial to increase productions.
He informed that the delegation from ATMA and Rubber Board have met the state chief secretary, commissioner and secretary and the advisors of Land Resources Development and Industry and Commerce and held detailed discussion on two aspects namely on the expansion of new rubber area and how to utilise the existing matured rubber trees.
Vasanthagesan informed that 2 lakh hectare of new rubber plantation for entire Northeast was started in 2021 and have covered around 1.2 lakh hectare so far. He added that the Rubber Board would give out planting materials to the identified interested beneficiaries next year during planting season.
The director general of ATMA, Rajiv Budhraja, representing the four Indian tyre companies namely Apollo, CEAT, JK Tyre and MRF, said they have come to support the initiative for 2 lakh hectares of new rubber plantation in Northeast region including in Nagaland.
Budhraja said he was impressed with the availability of resources in Nagaland to support new plantation of rubber and also for tapping which are currently untapped. He added that their focus was not just tapping of rubber but also making it into a very good quality sheet rubber, which could be used by the tyre companies.
He assured that every kilogram of rubber that is produced domestically will find a market within the country particularly from the tyre industry.
The senior vice president (materials) of JK Tyre & Industries Ltd., Ashish Pandey, has termed it as a unique project and first of its kind in the world, wherein a consuming industry along with a nodal agency have come forward to promote what is needed/ deficit in the country.
Replying to a query on setting up a rubber manufacturing unit in Nagaland, Pandey said that any big work starts with a first step. He added that the first step is to initiate availability of raw materials.
Pandey shared that the total demand of rubber in the country currently is about 14.5 lakh metric tons annually of which the domestic production is about 8.5 lakh metric tons, while the remaining 5 lakh plus metric tons is being imported.