Our Correspondent
Kohima | July 24
Nagaland possesses excellent prospect for rubber plantation as the climatic condition and yield in this region is almost as good as that of traditional areas. Rubber, being labour intensive, can generate gainful employment opportunities and ensure economic returns to the rural people thereby providing viable alternatives to shifting cultivation, according to the annual administrative report of the Land Resources Development department tabled at the just-concluded state assembly session.
However, the report said, due to high capital investment and long gestation period, not many farmers take up the plantation successfully. Therefore, the report stated, with a view to encourage and enable farmers to successfully take up rubber plantation in the state the department is presently implementing the rubber plantation development scheme with loan from NABARD.
The scheme was sanctioned under RIDF-XII at a total cost of Rs.364.80 lakhs for implementation during 2006-07 to 2008-09, out of which Rs.218.00 lakhs have already been utilised (2006-07 – Rs.50.00 lakhs, 2007-08 – Rs.50.00 lakhs; and Rs.118.00 lakhs during 2008-09). The activities envisaged under this scheme include construction of five rubber roads, new area expansion and to provide support for post harvest management, the report said.
According to the report, the physical with the given expenditure is as follows: earth cutting and excavation have been completed in 4 roads, 160 hectares of new plantation have been developed, and 26 nos. of rubber sheet rollers and 10 smoke houses have been provided.
