AGARTALA,March 8 (TIWN): 1216 crore rupees was been earned from the production cost of rubber in the year 2012-13 and 2013-2014. Whereas a total of 77024 metric ton of rubber was produced in the following mentioned years. It is to be mentioned here that Tripura ranks as second largest producer of rubber. Natural rubber prices ruling high, farmers are showing increasing interest to bring more area under plantation. Tripura will face stiff competition in retaining second largest natural rubber producing State tag if the production is not enhanced in the years to come; Tripura will face tough challenge as many States have started showing interest in rubber plantation after suffering losses in the past. While Kerala contributes nearly 90 per cent of domestic production, unofficial estimates suggest Tripura’s contribution is limited to approximately 8 per cent.

The data of the production and the profit earned by third are sketched below:

Whereas, the 90 percent of the production of rubber are exported to various countries. Among them in the year 2012-13, a total of 530 crore rupees of production cost was exported and in the year 2013-14, 558 crore rupees was exported. While in the State in both the years 10 percent of the production is being utilized. This shows that the rubber industry tries to maintain its glory and production.

But during some years the price of rubber randomly decreases. The cost price of rubber is 60-65 per kg. So, if the cost price is such, more amount will be invested on the production cost and wage of the farmers. The gradually decrease will merely because of the Southeast Asian Countries. Particularly Malaysia supplies high quality of fiber at affordable prices. Inspite of that transport cost is less in supplying this by ships rather than by trucks from Tripura to the mainlands. According to a local cultivator, the cost of rubber cost in the230-250.  But in the recent year it decreases to 80 .Now the cultivators feel difficulty to store the materials and paying the wage of the farmers. Recently they had submitted a deputation to the Chief Minister Manik Sarkar to receive back the lost glory of this State.

However it is taken to be under notice that in the year 2010-11, about 11, 673 hectare is under natural cultivation. Total production in the state in the TFDPC was 1595mt. The estimate cost in 2011-12 is 41.22 crore. Several industries have been set up in Tripura which utilize about 27 percent of available raw latex from TFDPC and convert to value added finished products ushering in an era of industrial revolution in the State.

 Rubber has now attained the status of the most important plantation crop in Tripura not merely because of its commercial success, but more so due to its innovative application for economic rehabilitation of shifting cultivators, which delivered generally a degree of success in a manner hitherto not experienced in any rehabilitation package on un-arable uplands