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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) last evening gave its approval to the following proposals for implementation of the Rubber Plantation Development Scheme by the Rubber Board during X Plan with an outlay of Rs. 159 crore:
(i) To assist replanting (a) by providing a planting grant of Rs. 20,000 per hectare to growers in the traditional region having an area upto 5 hectares, with financial assistance being limited to 2 hectares only; and (b) providing a planting grant of Rs. 20,000 per hectare for replanting to growers in the non-traditional region having an area upto 5 hectares and Rs. 16,000 per hectare for the growers haing an area between 5 hectares and 20 hectares.
(ii) To continue planting grant for new planting @ Rs.12,000 per hectare in the traditional region with no change in eligibility criteria and continue planting grant @ Rs. 16,000 per hectare in the non-traditional region to growers holding an area of up to 5 hectares and @ Rs. 12,000 per hectare for holdings above 5 hectares but not exceeding 20 hectares.
(iii) To reimburse the cost of planting material in the traditional region at a declining rate, limited to 500 plants per hectare, ending with Rs.One per plant during 2005-06 and continue reimbursement of the cost for advanced planting material in the non-traditional region @ Rs.8 per plant limited to 500 plants per hectare, with all categories of growers being eligible to avail of this assistance.
(iv) Setting up of a revolving fund of Rs.10 crore for purchase of critical inputs in bulk by the Rubber Board, and distributing to the small growers through Rubber Producers’ Societies.
(v) Maintenance of nurseries in traditional as well as non-traditional regions, promoting formation of grass roots level organizations of farmers at village level, supporting Model Rubber Producers’ Societies, promoting extra income generation activity from rubber plantations through apiculture, conducting educational campaign programmes and farmers meetings, consultancy studies, maintenance of tribal plantations, implementing integrated village level rubber development programmes in non-traditional regions.
The Rubber Plantation Development Scheme would help in increasing production and productivity of natural rubber in the country to meet the requirement of the consuming industry. Due to concerted efforts in the past, more than 50 per cent of the plantations have been covered under the Scheme and it is proposed to enhance the coverage to 70 per cent of the current re-plantations and new plantations during X Plan period.
The enhanced production of natural rubber will meet the requirements of the domestic rubber industry, save foreign exchange required for import and earn foreign exchange through export of natural rubber and rubber products.
RK/HS/LV
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