Lok Sabha Question No. 55 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-18
Subject: Production and Import of Natural Rubber
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: DODDAALAHALLI KEMPEGOWDA SURESH, POONAM  MAHAJAN, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN, DHARMENDRA YADAV, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, SAUGATA ROY, KANWAR SINGH TANWAR

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 55 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH  JULY, 2016

## PRODUCTION AND IMPORT OF NATURAL RUBBER

## 55. SHRI D.K. SURESH:

PROF. SAUGATA ROY:

SHRI KANWAR SINGH TANWAR:

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

- (a) the  total  production  of  natural  rubber  in  the  country  during  each  of  the  last  three years and the current year;
- (b) the total quantity of rubber imported into the country during the said period along with the steps taken to check its import from abroad;
- (c) whether  the  price  of  natural  rubber  has  declined  thereby  affecting  the  domestic rubber producers/growers;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the measures taken by the Government to help them; and
- (e) the total amount released so far for rubber growers from price stabilization fund?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx jkT; ea=h ¼Jherh fueZyk lhrkje.k½ ¼Lora= izHkkj½

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) The production of Natural Rubber(NR) in the country during the last three years and current year is as under:
- (b) The import of Natural Rubber (NR) in the country during the last three years and current year is as under:

| Year               |   Production (quantity in tonnes) |
|--------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 2013-14            |                            774000 |
| 2014-15            |                            645000 |
| 2015-16            |                            562000 |
| 2016-17(April-May) |                             85000 |

| Year               |   Import of NR (quantity in tonnes) |
|--------------------|-------------------------------------|
| 2013-14            |                              360263 |
| 2014-15            |                              442130 |
| 2015-16            |                              458374 |
| 2016-17(April-May) |                               69995 |

The Government has increased the duty on import of dry rubber from '20% or Rs 30 per kg whichever is lower' to '25% or Rs. 30 per kg. whichever is lower' w.e.f  30.4.2015  in  order  to  increase  the  cost  of  imported  rubber  and  create demand for locally produced rubber. The Government has also reduced the period of  utilization  of  imported  dry  rubber  under  advance  licensing  scheme  from  18 months to 6 months.Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has imposed port restriction  on  the  import  of  natural  rubber  by  restricting  the  port  of  entry  to Chennai and NhavaSheva (Jawaharlal Nehru Port) since 20 th January, 2016.

- (c) & (d) Price  of  benchmark  RSS  4  grade  NR  in  the  domestic  market  which averaged Rs. 166.02 and Rs. 132.57 per kg. in 2013-14 and 2014-15 respectively, averaged Rs. 113.06 per kg. during 2015-16.  The average monthly price of the grade was Rs. 133.75 per kg. in June, 2016.

In addition to measures taken to regulate import of NR, the Government has also devised market-linked Revenue Insurance Scheme for Plantation Crops (RISPC) for protecting the farmers of plantation crops, including rubber plantations, against losses arising from fluctuations in yield as well as prices.  The scheme has been shared with the State Governments to meet their share of insurance premium.

- (e)  Total amount released for rubber growers from Price Stablisation Fund was Rs. 27.41 lakh.

*******