Arunachal to opt for tie up with Rubber Board

Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh will opt for a tie-up with Rubber Board of India for undertaking rubber cultivation in the state on commercial basis with the aim to provide jobs for the unemployed youths.

Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has evinced keen interest for the venture when Agro Gramin United (AGUN) chairman Likha Maj called on him yesterday and submitted a report on his recent tour to Kotayyam to study about rubber cultivation in the country`s rubber hub, official sources said. The chief minister handed over the report to Chief Secretary H K Paliwal with a direction to take immediate steps as the state government has adopted a policy to promote rubber and tea cultivation for generating employment avenues and boosting rural economy. He also invited Rubber Board Chairperson Sheela Thomas to the state along with a technical team on April 7. Rubber by-products like honey, which has greater medicinal and food value than the traditional honey, and timber of the old and discarded tree can be used for making the finest furniture, an official report said. "Once the rubber cultivation is taken up methodically on a scientific basis involving the Rubber Board, Arunachal Pradesh would produce one lakh tons of rubber within a few years," the report said. Tripura the second state after Kerala in rubber production. In that north east state the area under rubber cultivation has increased from just 3500 hectares in 1982 to a massive 57,620 hectares in 2012 and employs more than 50,000 farmers, the report added. PTI