Karnataka rubber acreage may rise 10%

Karnataka is likely to see a 8-10 per cent expansion in rubber cultivation this financial year. The rubber acreage is expected to increase from the current 26,592 hectares to 30,000 hectares.

The state saw a 16.40 per cent rise in rubber cultivation in 2006-07 at 26,952 hectares compared with 23,153 hectares in 2005-06, said K G Mohanan, deputy rubber production commissioner, Rubber Board.

The board has selected few taluks of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and parts of Chikmagalur to expand rubber cultivation. These areas are located at a height of 1,500 feet or 450 meters, ideal for rubber cultivation. The other areas (rain shadow areas) facing the Western Ghats are not suitable for rubber cultivation as they witness dry weather.

The production of rubber in the state went up by 5.45 per cent at 15,755 tonnes in FY 2006-07, compared with 14,940 tonnes in FY 2005-06. The yield per hectare also went up by 5.82 per cent to 1,345 tonnes in FY 2006-07, compared with 1,271 tonnes in FY 2005-06.

Talking about the country's rubber production, Mohanan said, "The domestic production saw a decline of 18.10 per cent or 0.56 lakh tonnes during the April-August 2007 period at 2.53 lakh tonnes compared with 3.09 lakh tonnes for the same period last year." The lower natural rubber (NR) production is due to unfavorable weather conditions.

The domestic consumption during April-August 2007 increased by 1.5 per cent at 3.39 lakh tonnes, compared with the previous year level of 3.34 lakh tonnes.

As for the prices, rubber domestic (RSSiv category) was lower by 0.9 per cent at Rs 88.73 per kg in January-August 2007, compared with Rs 89.56 per kg in the same period last year. Rubber international (RSSiii category) was also down by 7.5 per cent at Rs 94.69 per kg during January-August 2007, compared with Rs 102.42 per kg last year.