Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma highlighted the significance of rubber cultivation in establishing the state’s unique identity. He mentioned the launch of the Chief Minister’s Rubber Mission aimed at making Mizoram a prominent rubber-producing region. The Mission, initiated on October 18, 2024, after consultations with the Rubber Board of India, has seen remarkable progress exceeding initial expectations.
Lalduhoma praised the enthusiastic response from farmers towards rubber cultivation, emphasizing the need for technical knowledge and discipline in this sector. He assured continuous government support and encouraged farmers to actively participate in the training programs. The Chief Minister underlined the importance of crops like rubber and passion fruit in enhancing Mizoram’s agricultural landscape.
The training program, attended by around 550 rubber growers, includes sessions on scientific cultivation practices, tapping techniques, rubber sheet processing, and pest management. Mizoram, with approximately 50,000 hectares suitable for rubber cultivation, aims to leverage the benefits of rubber as a resilient crop supporting afforestation and water conservation. The state government’s focus on rubber cultivation is evident through the implementation of the Chief Minister’s Rubber Mission.
Infrastructure development under the Mission includes planting rubber saplings across districts and constructing approach roads to plantations. The Land Resources, Soil and Water Conservation Department has already planted a significant number of rubber saplings and plans further expansion in the coming years. The Mission, spanning five years, targets covering 11,500 hectares under rubber cultivation, with a comprehensive support system for farmers.
