Lok Sabha Question No. 1241 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-30
Subject: Natural Rubber
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Adv K. Francis George

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1241 ANSWERED ON 30/07/2024

## NATURAL RUBBER

## 1241.  ADV K. FRANCIS GEORGE:

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

(a) whether the  Directorate  General  of  Foreign  Trade  has  recommended  the  extension  of  the export  obligation  period  of  Duty  Entitlement  Pass  Book  licence  holders  under  the  advance authorisation scheme from Six months to Twelve months, if so, the details thereof alongwith the action taken by the Government in this regard;

(b) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  reject  the  recommendation  to  avoid largescale  duty-free  import  of  Natural  Rubber  thereby  causing  a  glut  in  the  market  and  the consequent steep fall in the price of Natural Rubber;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government is aware that financial crisis faced in Natural Rubber production sector in the country, if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government to tide over the crisis;

(e) whether the Government has taken any steps to step up production of Natural Rubber in the country, if so, the details thereof;

(f) whether import of Natural Rubber is higher than domestic production and if so, the details thereof; and

(g) the details of domestic production and import figures of Natural Rubber for financial year 2015 to 2023?

## 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) to (c) For  export  facilitation  and  ease  of  doing  business,  the  Government  reviews  its policy from time to time. Accordingly, the views of all the stakeholders have been invited on the subject matter of extension of the export obligation period under Advance Authorisation Scheme for certain items under Appendix-4J of Hand Book of Procedures, 2023.

(d) to (e) The  Natural  Rubber(NR)  production  sector  has  not  reported  any  information  of financial crisis in the sector to the Govt. The production of Natural Rubber in the country showed an upward trend during the last three years, as indicated in the Table below.

Table - NR production2021-22 to 2023-24

| Year    | Production (Tonnes)   |
|---------|-----------------------|
| 2021-22 | 7,75,000              |
| 2022-23 | 8,39,000              |
| 2023-24 | 8,57,000              |

(source- Rubber Board)

The  Government  has  taken  following steps to enhance  domestic Natural  Rubber production:-

(i)    Rubber  Board  has  released  5  high-yielding  clones  for  traditional  regions  and  two  for North  East  India.  Research  is  continuing  to  evolve  clones  with  higher  yield  and  climate resilience through classical breeding and genetic modification.

(ii)    Implemented measures for rain  guarding of the rubber plant for tapping during rainy season.

(iii)  Measures taken timely to control spread of diseases through spraying, as diseases could adversely affect NR production

(iv)  Implemented Rubber Plantation Development Scheme for extending area under rubber cultivation.

- (v)    Conducted  farmer  awareness  programmes  throughout  rubber  growing  areas  to popularize various good agricultural practices.
- (vi)  Conducted  training  programmmes  on  scientific  rubber  cultivation,  harvesting  and processing.

(vii) Implemented a collaborative project in association with Automotive Tyre Manufacturers  Association  (ATMA)  for  expanding  rubber  cultivation  in  North  Eastern states.

- (f) No Sir.

(g) The  details  of  domestic  production  and  import  figures  of  Natural  Rubber  (NR)  for financial year 2015 to 2023 is tabled below.

| Year    | NR Production (tonnes)   | NR Import (tonnes)   |
|---------|--------------------------|----------------------|
| 2015-16 | 5,62,000                 | 4,58,374             |
| 2016-17 | 6,91,000                 | 4,26,188             |
| 2017-18 | 6,94,000                 | 4,69,760             |
| 2018-19 | 6,51,000                 | 5,82,351             |
| 2019-20 | 7,12,000                 | 4,57,223             |
| 2020-21 | 7,15,000                 | 4,10,478             |
| 2021-22 | 7,75,000                 | 5,46,369             |
| 2022-23 | 8,39,000                 | 5,28,677             |
| 2023-24 | 8,57,000                 | 4,92,682             |

(source- Rubber Board)

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