Assam Emerges as a Key Hub for Natural Rubber Production

Assam is rapidly becoming a major contributor to India’s natural rubber sector, with nearly 50,000 hectares under cultivation and the third-highest production in the country after Kerala and Tripura.

Rubber Board Executive Director M. Vasanthagesan said the State plays a vital role in the expansion of rubber cultivation in the Northeast, which now has around 1.8 lakh hectares of plantations. He added that efforts are focused on improving productivity to meet growing domestic demand.

Officials also highlighted the success of the INROAD Project, under which 1.79 lakh hectares of rubber plantations have been developed across the Northeast and West Bengal, benefiting over 2 lakh growers.

Government representatives noted that Assam’s rubber industry has strong growth potential, supported by improved export opportunities, free trade agreements, and the introduction of the world’s first genetically modified rubber plant designed for Northeast India’s climate.