Rs 413 crore for rubber plantation

The government has set apart over Rs 413 crore for replanting and new planting of rubber in the country during the 11th-plan period.

"The proposal is to cover 31,750 hectares under the replanting programme with subsidy during the 11th-plan period in the traditional and non-traditional regions," Minister for Commerce Jairam Ramesh told reporters here on Wednesday.

Besides, an area of 10,000 hectares would be brought under new plantation in the traditional region and 2,500 hectares in the non-traditional region, he added.

The proposed outlay for the scheme was set at Rs 240.39 crore. The scheme was also aimed at the enhancement of productivity.

When productivity increases, the cost of production from the holdings would come down and that would lead to an increase in the growers' net farm income, he said.

Apart from the above scheme, a separate scheme was aimed at the development of rubber plantation in the Northeastern region. The outlay for which was 173.05 crore, Ramesh said.