Lok Sabha Question No. 99 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-25
Subject: Natural Rubber
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: SANKAR PRASAD DATTA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.99 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 th  APRIL, 2016

## NATURAL RUBBER

## 99.     SHRI SANKAR PRASAD DATTA:

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

- (a) whether Government has taken any steps to arrest the fall of natural rubber prices which has adversely affected a large number of people including rubber growers, labourers and their families and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the month -wise details of natural rubber imports through all the channels in to the country during 2015 -16, up to 31st October, 2015; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to utilize Price Stabilisation fund to save rubber growers and rubber cultivation?

## ANSWER

वािणÏ य एवं उɮयोग राÏ य मंत्री ) Įीमती िनमर्ला सीतारमण ( ( èवतंत्र प्रभार )

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

- (a) 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. RSS (Ribbed Smoked Sheet) and TSR (Technically Specified Rubber) has been added in Merchandise  Export  from  India  Scheme  (MEIS)  which  make  them  eligible  for  an incentive at the rate of two per cent of export values.DGFT has imposed port restriction on  the  import  of  natural  rubber  by  restricting  the  port  of  entry  to  Chennai  and NhavaSheva(Jawaharlal  Nehru  Port)  vide  Notification  No.  32/2015-2020  dated  20 th January, 2016.
- (b) The month-wise details of Natural Rubber imports into the country during 2015-16 are as under:
- (c) The Price Stabilization Fund Scheme was implemented by the Central Government from  the year 2003 to 2013 with a view to protect the farmers of plantation crops including rubber, from losses  on  account  of  price  fluctuations  with  the  support  from  the  Price  Stabilisation  Fund (PSF). The scheme was reviewed and, in light of the experience gained from implementing the Scheme, a market-linked Revenue Insurance Scheme for Plantation Crops (RISPC) has been devised  for  protecting  the  farmers  of  plantation  crops,  including  rubber  plantations,  against losses arising from both fluctuations in yield as well as prices.  The scheme has been shared with the State Governments to meet their share of insurance premium.

| Month       |   Import (Tonnes) |
|-------------|-------------------|
| April, 2015 |             37916 |
| May, 2015   |             34772 |

| June, 2015      |   34098 |
|-----------------|---------|
| July, 2015      |   38679 |
| August, 2015    |   34788 |
| September, 2015 |   34645 |
| October, 2015   |   41295 |

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