Rubber Board conducted a month-long awareness-cum-training programme on quality improvement of sheet rubber among the small growers in the traditional rubber-growing belt of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The campaign from May 8 to June 8, 2012 was conducted in association with Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA), All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA) and Indian Rubber Dealers’ Federation (IRDF).
Rubber Producers Societies, Self Help Groups, NGOs and other voluntary organizations also actively took part in the campaign. In addition to the main theme of quality improvement of sheet rubber, topics like use of root trainer plants, soil moisture conservation, low frequency of tapping etc. were also discussed in the campaign meetings.
Earlier inaugurating the campaign, Sheela Thomas, Chairman, Rubber Board, said that improvement in the quality of sheet rubber is essential for ensuring healthy growth and sustainability of Indian rubber plantation industry. When almost all the tyre majors are coming to our country to set up their units here, the farmers should reap the benefits offered by the market, she added.
Rajiv Budhraja,   Director General, Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association, Vinodh Simon, President, All India Rubber Industries Association, Dr. J Thomas, Rubber Production Commissioner, Kowshik Roy, Convener, Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association - Raw Material Group, George Valy, President, Indian Rubber Dealers Federation, and Siby J Monippally, General Secretary, Indian Rubber Growers Association, were among those who spoke.