Natural rubber (NR) (Hevea brasiliensis) is an industrial raw material. More than 50,000 products can be made from latex, which is obtained by tapping of bark of trees, right from tiny buttons to gigantic tires. After planting, it takes about 6 to 7 years for attaining yielding stages; its economic life span varies from about 25 to 30 years.

Rubber seeds are used for raising seedling nurseries, seed oil is used in paint industries, seed oil cake is used as cattle feed, poultry feed and even manure. Rubber has a special character of honey production (gland present in the junction of trifoliate leaves). This opens avenues for apiculture in rubber gardens. Around 40% of honey produced in India is from rubber gardens. Rubber is also a source of good timber. It is used for making different furniture, internal decoration of house, panelling, packing boxes etc. Few years back Tripura has already started rubber wood factory at Nagicherra (Agartala), as a result before replanting, the farmers get an attractive additional income by selling those timbers.

As already mentioned that latex, which is obtained from rubber tree is an industrial raw material. The small growers process the crop into sheet rubber (nearly 70%) which is used mainly for manufacturing tires, which is the primary processing. Other marketable forms of NR are ISNR (Indian standard Natural Rubber) or Block rubber, Pale Latex Crepe (PLC), Estate Brown Crepe (EBC), Preserved Field Latex with ammonia & other chemicals (50-60% conc.)—Centrifuged latex or creamed latex. The uses of natural rubber by different industries are shown below:-

• Tyre—-50%
• Bicycle tyre/tubes—15%
• Foot wear—12%
• Belts & hoses—6%
• Camel back/latex product—7%
• Others—10%
• Rubberized road with latex—Airport runway—highly durable and friction free. If NR is used for making NH, this will expand the use to a greater extent.

As far as North East is concerned, total area under cultivation is about 1.89 lakh hectares and production is around 1.12 lakh tonnes. This means, a tremendous scope is there for rubber based industries in NE region. Any enterprise or industry is opened based on availability of raw materials, technology and demand in the market. The public-private partnership (PPP) model is need of the hour. The Government and the entrepreneurs should come forward and develop sufficient close co-operation for successful establishment of industries. This will solve unemployment problems of young generation besides economic development of the region.

Latex based products like rubber band, gloves and balloons, latex thread, latex foam like air pillow/cushions/beds/mattress, tire rethreading factories etc. could find a good market in NE region. Such industries could be started on small or medium scale. Most of such industries do not require high capital investment, technology is simple and power consumption is comparatively less. In states like Tripura, Assam, Nagaland and Meghalaya immense potential is there for such industries. A number of industries have already started since long in Tripura. In Assam, Nagaland & Meghalaya few entrepreneurs have come forward at individual level as well as by co-operatives. Even, SSI on cycle tire-tube manufacturing units also could be started in potential pockets.

The department of Industry & Commerce of the concerned states should come out with proper planning for utilisation of raw materials of each state with a mindset of “vocal for local” and establish such MSME with their support for economic development of the states and solving unemployment issues of young generation. The need based training on manufacturing of rubber products/project report (DPR) can be had from the Director (Training), on payment of prescribed fees, National Institute for Rubber Training (NIRT), Puthupally, Kottayam, and Kerala-686009. E-mail id is training@rubberboard.org.in. Phone number—0481-2353127/2351313, website of Rubber Board is rubberboard.org.in

Let us vow to make Atmanirvar Bharat a success and hope for a bright future of NE states.

Author: – Prasanta Debroy, Development Officer Retd, Rubber Board of India.

(Disclaimer: Views expressed by the author are his own)