Rubber Board targets 1 million tonne output

Production expected to reach 8,00,000 tonnes in FY18

Output of natural rubber (NR) in the country last month, the first of the current financial year, showed a rise of 23.1 per cent from the same period a year before, at 48,000 tonnes from the earlier 39,000 tonnes..

“If this trend continues, production of NR during the fiscal (year) will reach the anticipated 800,000 tonnes,” said A Ajith Kumar, chairman, Rubber Board, and a million tonnes (mt) next year.

Current annual demand in the domestic market is around 1.1 mt.

The Board said it had focused on improving the input supply chain, to ensure it reached farmers in time.