Rubber and coffee plantations Despite potential, what makes State Government hesitant?

GUWAHATI: Despite prospects for employment opportunities and industrialization from rubber and coffee plantations, the Assam Government continues to stop short of taking adequate measures to boost this sector.

The state has rubber cultivation on around 60,000 hectares of land, providing employment avenues to around two lakh people. Strangely enough, the State Government has as many as 28 rubber gardens under it with almost no production. This is because the rubber trees in the gardens are over-aged.

According to official sources, planted in 1974, most of the rubber trees in the State Government’s gardens have aged over 40 years. Of late, the Central Rubber Board has come forward to revive the 28 rubber gardens of the State Government. They are ready to replace the overaged rubber trees with young ones. They are waiting for the nod from the State Government.

The Central Rubber Board has identified around two lakh hectares of land in the Northeast for rubber cultivation in a big way. The rubber production in the state now comes mainly from private players.

According to official sources, there is vast potential for setting up industries to add value to the cultivation and produce in the state. Due to its favourable agro-climatic conditions, Assam has been identified as a potential state for rubber production. And hence, there is ample scope for the expansion of rubber plantations in the state. If the government gives the required incentives, like in the tea industry, the rubber venture in the state can also boost industries, besides providing employment opportunities to the people.

The Northeast, including Assam, has prospects for coffee plantations. Ninety-nine percent of the coffee in Assam is produced on small private farms, mainly by tribal people. Coffee plantations began in the Cachar district of the state in 1953. Now, coffee plantations take place in Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong, and Bijni in Chirang district. The total plantation area is only 428 hectares, which is nine percent of the total area of coffee plantations in the Northeast. Coffee plantations also have scope in Assam. An individual farmer in Sonapur has started cultivation of cocoa beans and is manufacturing chocolate locally. However, the cost of manufacture is high, and that has a negative effect on the price line. If such farmers get incentives from the government, they can make their ventures viable and generate employment avenues.

Both rubber and coffee boards have taken some measures to boost rubber and coffee production in the Northeast, including Assam. If the State Government gives the required push in that direction, the production of rubber and coffee can get a boost.

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