Lok Sabha Question No. 3520 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-17
Subject: Rubber Farming Crisis
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Dr. Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3520 ANSWERED ON 17/12/2024

## RUBBER FARMING CRISIS

## 3520.  DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will  the  Minister  of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मं त्री ) be  pleased  to state:

(a) the  details  of  production  of  natural  rubber  produced  in  the  country  each  of  the  year during the last decade, State-wise;

(b) whether the production of natural rubber has decreased during the last few years;

(c) if so, whether the Government has conducted any research or survey to assess the reasons for the low productivity of rubber plantations;

(d) the details of the steps taken by the Government to bring the rubber plantation back on track;

(e) whether  the  Union  Government  proposes  to  mitigate  the  losses  incurred  by  rubber farmers in Kerala, the State responsible for the majority of national rubber output; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद)

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) The  details  of  state-wise  and  year-wise  production  of  natural  rubber  in  the  country from the year 2014-15 to 2023-24 is attached as Annexure-I.

(b) to (d) Production  of  natural  rubber  has  grown  consistently  in  the  last  few  years, increasing from 7,15,000 tonnes in 2020-21 to 8,57,000 tonnes on 2023-24. The productivity of natural rubber has also increased during this period from 1442 kg/ha in 2020-21 to 1485 kg/ha in 2023-24. Government of India through Rubber Board  is implementing the scheme 'Sustainable and Inclusive Development of Natural Rubber Sector' for the benefit of natural rubber sector. Under the scheme, Rubber Board provides financial/technical assistance inter alia  for  planting/re-planting  of  natural  rubber, rain  guarding,  promotion of good  agricultural practices  and  prevention  of  diseases  in  order  to  improve  the  productivity  and  production  of natural rubber.

(e) & (f) The prices of natural rubber depend on demand and supply. International prices also  influence  domestic  prices.  The  average  price  of  natural  rubber  (RSS  4  grade)  for  the period January 2024 to October 2024 has been significantly higher than the average price of natural rubber (RSS 4 grade) for the same period in  2023. There is no information about any specific  instances  of  losses  incurred  by  rubber farmers. Further, the Government has approved  enhanced  outlays  of  Rs 708.69 Cr for the scheme of Rubber Board for the period 2024-25 to 2025-26.

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Annexure referred to in reply to Part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3520 for answer on 17.12.2024.

| Production of Natural Rubber (Tonne)   | Production of Natural Rubber (Tonne)   | Production of Natural Rubber (Tonne)   | Production of Natural Rubber (Tonne)   | Production of Natural Rubber (Tonne)   | Production of Natural Rubber (Tonne)   | Production of Natural Rubber (Tonne)   | Production of Natural Rubber (Tonne)   | Production of Natural Rubber (Tonne)   |
|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| Year                                   | Kerala                                 | Tamil Nadu                             | Tripura                                | Assam                                  | Meghalaya                              | Karnataka                              | Other states                           | India                                  |
| 2014-15                                | 507700                                 | 23785                                  | 47000                                  | 17310                                  | 8510                                   | 34560                                  | 6135                                   | 645000                                 |
| 2015-16                                | 438630                                 | 19495                                  | 44245                                  | 14560                                  | 7360                                   | 29400                                  | 8310                                   | 562000                                 |
| 2016-17                                | 540400                                 | 21140                                  | 50985                                  | 19970                                  | 8950                                   | 38800                                  | 10755                                  | 691000                                 |
| 2017-18                                | 540775                                 | 21110                                  | 50500                                  | 23300                                  | 9050                                   | 38300                                  | 10965                                  | 694000                                 |
| 2018-19                                | 492500                                 | 21500                                  | 52300                                  | 25200                                  | 9300                                   | 38900                                  | 11300                                  | 651000                                 |
| 2019-20                                | 533500                                 | 21600                                  | 61950                                  | 30350                                  | 9350                                   | 41550                                  | 13700                                  | 712000                                 |
| 2020-21                                | 519500                                 | 19710                                  | 73780                                  | 34130                                  | 9540                                   | 43860                                  | 14480                                  | 715000                                 |
| 2021-22                                | 556600                                 | 21630                                  | 79730                                  | 39240                                  | 10840                                  | 49085                                  | 17875                                  | 775000                                 |
| 2022-23                                | 599375                                 | 23120                                  | 89390                                  | 45120                                  | 11425                                  | 50330                                  | 20240                                  | 839000                                 |
| 2023-24                                | 609600                                 | 23900                                  | 91500                                  | 46500                                  | 11775                                  | 52780                                  | 20945                                  | 857000                                 |

(Source: Rubber Board)

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