Rubber yield slides due to climate change

The productivity of natural rubber in the country has reduced due to climate change with the total output slipping marginally in 2007-08, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

“Climate change, especially unpredictable, irregular and deficient rainfall pattern adversely affects the growth and productivity of natural rubber,” Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jairam Ramesh said in a written reply.

Changes in rainfall pattern triggers fungal infection of leaves, which adversely affects productivity, he said, adding that the country’s production has declined to 825,000 tonnes in 2007-08 from 852,000 tonnes in the previous year.

According to the data submitted to Parliament, production in Kerala, the main rubber growing state, witnessed about 30,000 tonnes fall in production at 7.53 lakh tonnes from previous year.

Despite slump in rubber output in 2007-08, the government has set an ambitious target of 875,000 tonnes for 2008-09, the data said.

It has already produced 393,000 tonnes during April-September period, Ramesh said.

However, to mitigate the problem arising from climate change, the minister said the steps are taken to deal with the situation and there is no proposal to set up a separate body for the same.

The government has initiated control measures through the Rubber Research Institute of India and the Rubber Board to address all diseases of rubber.

“Whenever severe disease occurs as a result of congenial weather conditions, the Board actively takes up campaign programmes to ensure that plant protection practices are followed by rubber growers,” Ramesh said.

The government has also recommended rubber growers to use planting materials grown in root trainer cups with better root growth having drought tolerance.