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Jubilee of a successful agriculture campaign

KOTTAYAM: The golden jubilee of one of the most successful agriculture campaigns in the history of modern India will be held here on Monday when the Rubber Board celebrates fifty years of extension work at a special function.

Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh will be the chief guest. In the last fifty years, there has been an increase of 650 per cent in the extent of area under rubber cultivation. Production has registered a whopping 3500 per cent increase. During this period, productivity increased over 550 per cent, a Board press release said. According to information provided by the Rubber Board, rubber cultivation was spread over 94,879 ha in 1956-57 with an annual production of 24,060 metric tonne. Productivity was 333 kg per ha. By 2006-07, it increased to 615,200 ha planting area with an annual production of 852,895 mt. In productivity, India now stands first with 1,879 kg per ha.

The extension work of the Board was linked to the Five Year Plans and this helped in the effective implementation of the programmes, the press release said.

During the first two decades, till 1970, the focus was on replanting but during the sixth Plan period, the Board extended its focus to new planting too. This resulted in a quantum jump in the planting area in 1980s with a record 53,244 ha coming under rubber plantation in 1980-84 period. By the end of the 1980s, the Board shifted its focus to the constitution of Rubber Producers Societies (RPS) which helped to inculcate group activities among the small grower communities. The quality improvement programmes took root during this period. Today, the Indian rubber farmer gets the highest farm gate price for his product. The ‘Suvarnasanghom’ award for the best RPS, which carries a purse of Rs.2 lakh, will be given away at the programme organised in connection with the golden jubilee celebrations. Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy will present the award to the Elavambadom RPS.

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