The Hindu Business Line : Indian rubber output zooms ahead of Thailand

Udaipur, Nov. 3 India has left Thailand far behind in productivity of rubber. Addressing the technical session of the India International Rubber Conference and Expo 2007, Mr Sajan Peter, Chairman of Rubber Board, said according to the London-based International Rubber Study Group, while the two countries were neck-to-neck in productivity / 2005, India has surged ahead with a productivity of 1,879 kg per hectare in 2006.

The IIRC 07, which was inaugurated by the Governor of Rajasthan, Mr S.K. Singh, at Udaipur on Thursday, was attended by over 500 delegates both from India and abroad.

Over 80 technical and scientific papers, including 30 from overseas delegates, were presented.

Addressing the inaugural session, Dr R.P. Singhania, Chairman of ATMA and Managing Director of JK Tyres, said with the scarcity of raw materials looming as a significant factor, technology has to be the driving force behind tyre industry of the future. While the per capita rubber consumption in India hovers at 0.92 kg, the world average stands at 3.28 kg and that of the developed countries is 10-12 kg, Mr Peter pointed out. By 2020, India is predicted to occupy the second position in rubber consumption after China, overtaking even the US. Rubber production has been growing by 4.7 per cent during the past decade.

Genetic material

Citing figures, he said as a result of India’s globalisation and liberalisation efforts, Indian rubber prices had been trailing international prices consistently since 2002.

Furthering the growth in area and productivity, two new varieties of rubber, RRII 414 and 430, were introduced in 2005 and currently work is on for 40 new clones. Dr Abdul Aziz Kadir, Secretary-General of the International Rubber Research and Development Board, Malaysia, said his organisation had undertaken an expedition to the Amazon jungle, and this had resulted in availability of a wider range of genetic materials for incorporation into the breeding programmes of several countries.

This incorporation had enabled productivity growth for several clones — going up to 4,000 kg per hectare. Highlighting the shortage of rubber tappers, he said that the discovery of latex yield stimulants, low-intensity tapping system involving lower frequency of tapping or shorter tapping cuts have already been introduced. This increased flow-per-tapping of stimulated trees has enabled tapping frequencies to be reduced to as low as once a week. This is useful wherever there is a shortage of tappers, Dr Aziz said.

Dr Mohammed Akbar Said, Deputy Director General, Malaysian Rubber Board, pointed out that favourable world economic growth triggers, continuous development of automobile, pharmaceutical and engineering industry is poised to prop up global demand. And this growth in demand for natural rubber will continue to be in the Asia-Pacific region, primarily from China and India.

More Stories on : Rubber | Events | Outlook

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Indian rubber output zooms ahead of Thailand

Rains keep spot rubber prices firm

Palm oil may correct lower

3 new units to produce ethanol from sorghum

Bharathan Pillai is CEPC Chairman