M. Vasanthagesan Executive Director of the Rubber Board remarked that low prices of rubber, increased labour costs, labour shortages, diseases, climate change, environmental problems are the common challenges that all NR-producing countries face today.
Dr. Sawar Dhanania, Chairman of the Rubber Board, inaugurated the Annual Rubber Conference and Assembly Meetings of the Association of Natural Rubber (NR) Producing Countries (ANRPC) in Guwahati.
“The ANRPC should prioritize addressing such issues common for all and formulate appropriate policies. Mechanization in the rubber plantation sector, promotion of sustainable agricultural practices, strengthening of the supply chain, value addition for rubber wood, etc., will ensure the sustainable existence of rubber farmers everywhere,” Dr Dhanania said.
Dato’ Dr Zaroissani Mohd Nor, Director–General, Malaysian Rubber Board & Chairman of ANRPC, presented the annual statement of the ANRPC. The mission of the Association is to continuously improve the productivity of rubber holdings, reduce cost, increase value addition in the downstream rubber sector, explore sources of ancillary income, capitalize on the eco-friendly credentials of natural rubber, and thereby improve the well-being of rubber farmers.
Vasanthagesan remarked that low prices of rubber, increased labour costs, labour shortages, diseases, climate change, environmental problems, etc., are the common challenges that all NR-producing countries face today. Collective efforts are essential to solve these common issues in this sector. Efforts are largely ongoing in various dimensions for the overall development of the rubber sector and to achieve self-sufficiency in all rubber production and product manufacturing. ‘INROAD’, the biggest rubber planting project to expand rubber in two lakh hectares of land in northeastern states with the cooperation and financial support of ATMA, the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association, is underway.
