In January 2025, the Kottayam (Kerala) based Rubber Board (RB) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I) unveiled two initiatives’ iSNR (Indian Sustainable Natural Rubber)’ and ‘INR Konnect’ platform during the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Rubber Act, 1947, and the Rubber Growers’ Conference held in Kottayam.
- These initiatives aim to strengthen India’s global position in the rubber industry and increase domestic production.
- Awards were also presented to the top performers of ‘mRube’, the digital marketing platform for Natural Rubber (NR).
Note: The Rubber Act was enacted in 1947 to provide for the development under the control of the Union of the rubber industry. The Act has been amended several times to address the changing needs of the industry.
Key People: Union Minister of State (MoS) George Kurian, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAH&D) and Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA); M. Vasanthagesan IRS, Executive Director(ED) of RB; and T. Siju, Rubber Production Commissioner in RB, along with several dignitaries, attended the inaugural session.
About iSNR (Indian Sustainable Natural Rubber):
i.The initiative aligns Indian rubber production with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) standards.
ii.It includes iSNR traceability certification, ensuring the rubber’s origin and confirming its compliance with EUDR requirements.
iii.It also provides stakeholders in the rubber supply chain with a pathway to access European Union (EU) markets.
About INR Konnect:
i.It is a web-based platform designed to connect owners of untapped rubber plantations with adopters to enhance productivity.
ii.It certifies the credibility of all parties involved while also providing training in production management and sustainable practices as needed.
iii.Significance: To address the 20-25% of untapped rubber plantations in India, which are affected by low prices, high production costs, and neglect from absentee landlords.
Rubber Production Status of India:
i.India is the 3rd largest producer and 4th largest consumer of natural rubber (NR), and the 5th largest consumer of both natural and synthetic rubber worldwide.
- Thailand is the world’s largest producer of NR, followed by Indonesia.
ii.Top producing states: Kerala produces over 90% of India’s NR, with additional production in states like Tamil Nadu (TN), Karnataka, Tripura, Assam, and Meghalaya.
About Rubber Board (RB) of India:
Executive Director (ED) – M. Vasanthagesan
Headquarters – Kottayam, Kerala
Founded – 1947
