Domestic natural rubber production rises 5.7 % in Apr-Aug to 259,000 tonnes

Projected to grow 16 per cent YoY to 800,000 tonnes in full 2017-18

Natural rubber (NR) production in the country is projected to touch 800,000 tonnes in the current financial year — a 16 per cent increase over last year, according to the Rubber Board.

The growing trend in production of natural rubber continued with a 5.7 per cent growth rate during April-August 2017, compared to the year-ago period. The production rose to 259,000 tonnes in the first five months of 2017-18 as against 245,000 tonnes a year ago.

The Rubber Board said it had been making efforts to increase production and productivity, and reduce the cost of production. The Board is also