Ponda, Nov 4 : Rubber plantation has been introduced for for the first time in Gujarat, a non-traditional area for cultivation of natural rubber, with the support of voluntary organisations and government agencies. A Pilot project for rubber plantation in 20 hectares was launched near lachakhedi village in Valsad district in August this year with the joint efforts of Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizer company (GNFC), a state government undertaking, a famous voluntary organisation -dharamvir uttan vahini (dhurva), and, the rubber board.Dr B Rajeevan, assistant development officer of Rubber Board's regional office here, told UNI that planting of rubber saplings began this year and more than 10,000 trees would be planted in an area of 20 hectares during the next four years. As soil condition of this hilly region is generally suitable, the irrigation facilities available there would contribute to the success of the rubber plantation programme, he added. He said(GNFC), which took the initiative to introduce rubber plantation, was funding the whole Pilot project, which is being implemented by dhurva with technical and other support from the rubber board.
The rubber board is offering maintenance grant and subsidies under different categories to promote the plantation which could offer a steady income from the eighth year of plantation for a further period of 20 to 24 years. About the returns, Dr Rajeevan said the net income per year, per hectare would come to around Rs 35,000 to 40,000, as per the prevailing market rate which is at present in the lowest level due to industrial recession. However, the rubber board is anticipating a promising price hike within the next two to three years. He said the proposal to introduce rubber plantation at other suitable places in Gujarat is also under consideration of the Gujarat state forest development corporation (GSFD) and the rubber board, a statutory body under the ministry of commerce of the Union government, which in turn is keen to promote plantation both in the government and the private sectors in the state.
To overcome the problem of long the gestation period of seven years,the rubber board is also suggesting inter-planting and inter-cropping of selected crops in the rubber plantation area and also provides necessary guidance to the farmers to go for a piculture which could generate additional income during the non-yielding phase.
The main source of natural rubber is`heavea brasilliensis', a tropical forest tree which is very well established in Kerala and Kanyakumari -the traditional rubber plantation areas. The rubber board had already conducted surveys and identified suitable land for economic cultivation of rubber trees in non-traditional areas of Goa, the Konkan belt of Maharashtra, Orissa and in the North eastern states.
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