Rubber Board launches insurance scheme for tappers

The Rubber Board of India has launched a ‘Group Life Insurance-Cum-Terminal Benefit Scheme’  for the benefit of the tappers working in the smallholding sector. The scheme was  inaugurated by the Board Chairman Sheela Thomas.
The members of this scheme are eligible for benefits like insurance cover, compensation for disabilities due to accidents, terminal benefits and scholarship to the children etc. Details of the scheme and application forms are available from the regional offices of the Board.

HML’s African foray put on hold

Harrisons Malayalam Ltd’s (HML) plan to acquire rubber plantations in the African continent has been put on hold for the time being due to political unrest and economic uncertainty in the region, according to Pankaj Kapoor, Managing Director of the company.
HML has also concluded that it is not worthwhile to acquire plantations in the Southeast Asian region as investments in these countries do not provide the right economic opportunity, he says.

Oidium leaf disease hits supply from Vietnam

Supply from Vietnam during the third quarter this year is expected to fall 9.4% on year due to severe Oidium leaf disease in the country’s highlands and coastal regions which are Vietnam’s upcoming rubber regions, according to ANRPC. As a result, many estates and holdings will delay reopening of trees for tapping after the end of ‘wintering’ off-season. For the full year, the growth in NR production is expected to fall to 3.4 % (780,000 tonnes) from 6.1 % growth recorded last year, ANRPC states.

Assam to plant rubberin 10,000 ha.

The Indian State of Assam has fixed a
target for planting rubber in an area of 10,000 hectares this year at a cost of Rs 730 million. The fund will be generated both from the State Government, the Centre and other sources.
The Rubber Board will arrange for the necessary subsidy, free training and marketing. The total area identified for rubber plantation in Assam is 200,000 hectares, of which 28,200 hectares is already under plantation and 171,898 hectares is yet to be covered.

Spraying of fungicides not harmful: Rubber Board

Spraying of bordeaux mixture and copper oxy chloride (COC) in rubber plantations to manage monsoon diseases is of no harm, informs the Rubber Board, India. The Board issued this clarification in the wake
of widespread
apprehensi-ons raised against the spraying of
even bordeaux mixture and sulphur dust, which are eco-friendly and are included in the organic recommendations.

Sri Lanka to plant rubber in more areas

Plans are under way to extend the cultivation of rubber to some more non-traditional areas in Sri Lanka, says
Minister  of Plantation Industries  Mahinda Samarasinghe.
Rubber would be cultivated in Padiyatalawa and Mahaoya in Ampara district in the dry zone. Monaragala, Kilinochchi, Mulativu and Vavuniya are the other non-traditional districts for rubber.

Vietnam, Laos to jointly

promote NR planting
Vietnam and Laos are increasing cooperation in planting of rubber trees and technical transfer to increase plantation areas. The plantings would be in Vietnam’s Binh Duong province and in the Champasak province of Laos.