Plantation industry should gear up to face challenges

KOCHI: Indian plantation industry should understand the impact of climate change and adapt itself accordingly to face up to the challenges, renowned agricultural scientist Dr M S Swaminathan said on Friday.

Pointing that climate change was a mega threat to human security, he said there was the need for synergy between technology and public policy.

He was speaking on 'Agricultural Extension -- The Way Forward' at the International Conference on Natural Rubber Extension and Development, organised by the Rubber Board.

Rubber plantation in India could be affected by climate change in two ways, directly due to changes in temperature, precipitation and indirectly, through changes in soil health and frequency of infestation by insects, diseases of weeds.

Rubber plantation development in the country has registered tremendous growth in respect of area, production and productivity over the last 50 years, he said.

The demand for rubber is ever increasing which could be met through synthetic or natural rubber, he said, adding synthetic rubber was more expensive, petroleum based and environmentally unfriendly. Natural rubber is technically acceptable and environment friendly, he said.

India could produce natural rubber at a globally competitive rate and good quality, provided its production was adequately supported. Cultivation of natural rubber was started in India since last 100 years or so, he said, pointing out that the initial yields were small-500 kg per hectare, which has now increased to 1750 kg per hectare.