Context:
Recently, the Rubber Board of India has introduced iSNR (Indian Sustainable Natural Rubber) and INR Konnect initiatives to enhance the global stature of Indian rubber and boost domestic production.
More on the News
- These initiatives, iSNR and INR Konnect, were unveiled during the valedictory session of the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Rubber Act, 1947, and the Rubber Growers’ Conference held in Kottayam, Kerala.
iSNR (Indian Sustainable Natural Rubber)
- It is designed to facilitate compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) for the Indian rubber ecosystem.
- The iSNR platform will issue a traceability certificate which will verify the origin of rubber products and confirm its compliance with the EUDR.
- By simplifying the compliance process, iSNR will facilitate easier access into the European Union markets for stakeholders in the rubber supply chain.
INR Konnect
- It is a web-based platform, that has been designed to connect growers of untapped rubber holdings with interested adopters to maximise plantation productivity.
- The platform will also offer a comprehensive database of certified tappers.
Rubber Board of India
- It is a statutory organization constituted under the Rubber Act, 1947 for the overall development of the rubber industry in the country.
- The Board’s headquarters is located at Kottayam in Kerala.
- The Rubber Board functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry of the Government of India.
- The Board is headed by a Chairman appointed by the Central Government and has 28 members representing various stakeholders of the natural rubber industry.
- The Board is responsible for the development of the rubber industry in the country by way of assisting and encouraging research, development, extension and training activities related to rubber.
India’s Natural Rubber (NR) statistics
- India is the third largest producer (after Thailand and Indonesia) and fourth largest consumer of natural rubber in the world.
- India’s natural rubber (NR) production has grown 8.6% from 7.89 lakh tonne in FY21-22 to 8.57 lakh tonne in FY23-24 with industry estimating it will hit 8.82 lakh tonne in FY24-25.
- Kerala, with a total area of 3.84 lakh hectares under rubber cultivation and an annual production of 3.70 lakh tonnes, produces over 90% of India’s natural rubber. Other rubber-growing states include Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Tripura, Assam, and Meghalaya.