Governor Nand Kishore Yadav with Rubber Board officials during a review meeting of the crop cultivation in Nagaland at Lok Bhavan, Kohima, on September 2. (Photo Courtesy: Lok Bhavan Kohima)
Kohima, September 2 (MExN): More than 29,700 hectares of land in Nagaland is under rubber cultivation, with the State producing over 13,600 metric tonnes of rubber annually, as Governor Nand Kishore Yadav reviewed the status and development of the sector.
Accordingly, a review meeting was held with officials of the Rubber Board Regional Office, Dimapur, at Lok Bhavan, Kohima.
As of March 31, 2026, Nagaland had 29,794.39 hectares under rubber, comprising 11,977.71 hectares of mature plantations and 17,816.68 hectares of immature plantations, the Governor was informed.
The State recorded 13,617.21 MT of production, with productivity at 1,166.03 kg per hectare during the same period.
During the meeting, officials presented the Governor with an overview of rubber cultivation and production, besides initiatives relating to infrastructure development, farmer training and welfare across the State.
It also reviews key interventions including the INROAD Project, Group Processing Centres (GPCs), Farmer Education and Training programmes, the Tappers' Intensive Skill Improvement Programme (TISP), skill development and disease-control measures, informed a press release from the Lok Bhavan Kohima.
The INROAD (Indian Natural Rubber Operations for Assisted Development) Project seeks to support large-scale plantation development and strengthen the rubber ecosystem in the North-East, while improving the livelihoods of rubber growers, it said.
Officials also highlighted GPCs, which are intended to facilitate collective processing, improve the quality of rubber sheets and reduce processing costs for individual growers. Capacity building is being undertaken through field training, practical demonstrations, awareness programmes and exposure visits.
To address the shortage of skilled tappers, the Rubber Board has intensified TISP, providing hands-on training in scientific rubber tapping practices.
The meeting was also apprised of drone-based spraying of Copper Oxychloride to combat Abnormal Leaf Fall disease. The intervention has covered 171.15 hectares in selected areas of Wokha, Peren and Niuland districts.
Challenges confronting the sector include poor rural road connectivity, shortage of skilled tappers, dependence on outside labour, inadequate marketing channels and wildlife-related damage to plantations, the release stated.
The Rubber Board plans to continue farmer education and training, expand skill-development initiatives, establish additional GPCs and strengthen coordination with the Department of Land Resources, Government of Nagaland. Further expansion of activities is also planned in anticipation of INROAD 2.0, it added.
