In an effort to address Kerala’s shortage of skilled rubber tappers and empower rural women, the state government plans to train Kudumbashree mission members as rubber tappers and plantation managers. This initiative, in collaboration with Kerala Rubber Limited, aims to tackle the acute shortage of skilled workers in the rubber sector.
Migrant workers have been filling vacancies in various sectors in Kerala, but rubber tapping has faced a shortage of skilled labor due to its specialized nature. As a result, many rubber plantations have been underutilized or poorly maintained. By providing scientific training in rubber tapping and plantation management to women, the government aims to create a skilled local workforce and offer sustainable livelihood opportunities.
The project, initially launched in Melukavu panchayat in Kottayam district, will expand to Community Development Societies (CDSs) in Kottayam and Pathanamthitta, with future plans to include other rubber-growing districts. Women in Kottayam are already participating in the program, and more are expected to join as it expands. Kudumbashree CDSs will act as professional plantation management agencies, managing rubber estates from planting to marketing.
Plantation owners can request these agencies to handle the entire management process, from planting to tapping, processing, and marketing. They will receive a share of the income, while the women involved will earn wages and gain specialized skills. Technical training, toolkits, and financial support for the program will be provided by the Rubber Board, Rubber Producers’ Societies, and Kerala Rubber Limited.
The recent increase in the minimum support price for natural rubber by the V.D. Satheesan government, from Rs 200 to Rs 250 per kg, is expected to enhance the viability of rubber cultivation. This, combined with a larger pool of trained tappers, aims to revitalize neglected plantations. The initiative not only addresses the labor shortage in Kerala’s rubber sector but also offers long-term employment opportunities for rural women, ensuring a stable income source from rubber cultivation.
