58,000 hectares of land in Assam under rubber plantation

GUWAHATI: Chairman of Rubber Board Ajith Kumar on Thursday met Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and informed him that 58,000 hectares of land in 28 districts are under rubber cultivation and the Board has identified more areas for expanding the rubber farming in the state.

Sonowal said the state government is willing to invite tyre manufacturing companies to set up base in the state once production of rubber is increased.

Rubber Board chairman requested the Chief Minister for forwarding a proposal to Central government for allocating extra fund under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) for rubber cultivation so that sustainable livelihood for economically weaker families can be generated.


The Chief Minister was also informed that the initial 7 to 9 years of gestation period of rubber plantation is highly labour intensive and 46 percent of expenditure of 4.5 lakhs per hectare can be met from MGNREGS.

Chief Minister assured of submitting a report in this regard to centre and said that there is lot of scope for expanding the rubber plantation in the state. He urged the Chairman and other officials of Rubber Board to help in scientific development of rubber farming in the untapped areas.