The Maharashtra Government has responded positively to a proposal from the Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII), under the Rubber Board, for conducting controlled field trials of genetically modified rubber, Ms Sheela Thomas, Chairman of Rubber Board, has said.

She pointed out that the response from the Kerala Government, which had strongly opposed the field trials citing the State's policy to be free of GM crops, was awaited. The trials will be conducted in a closely-controlled environment and not in commercially-cultivated holdings.

She also mentioned that the board would conduct a survey to find out, among other things, the actual stock of natural rubber in the country. She said a framework for the survey, which will investigate several other aspects of natural rubber cultivation and production, was just being readied. The survey would be conducted entirely by the Rubber Board and no outside agency would be involved.

Issues will be addressed

Ms Thomas was speaking at the interactive session with rubber traders organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Cochin Rubber Merchants Association. She assured the stakeholders that the issues raised by them would be addressed on an urgent basis, including the suggestion to raise the higher import duty in case of raw latex.

Nearly 50 members of the rubber trading community participated in the interactive session, the first since Ms Thomas took charge as the Rubber Board Chairman.

Mr Prathapachandran, President, Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, welcomed the gathering. Mr G. P. Goyal, President, Cochin Rubber Merchants Association, Mr N. Radjakrishnan, Advisor, and Mr K. B. Rajan, Secretary, CRMA, proposed the vote of thanks.

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