A STUDY ON THE TREND OF AREA, PRODUCTION AND TAPPING AREA OF RUBBER CULTIVATION IN KARBI ANGLONG DISTRICT OF ASSAM

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1 Available online at: pp. 119~125 A STUDY ON THE TREND OF AREA, PRODUCTION AND TAPPING AREA OF RUBBER CULTIVATION IN KARBI ANGLONG DISTRICT OF ASSAM Mintu Tokbi M.Phil Research Scholar Department of Economics Savitribai Phule Pune University Pune, Maharashtra, India ABSTRACT Rubber Cultivation is undertaken as a plantation crop mostly in jhum (Shifting Cultivation) fields spread over hills and plains of tribal dominated areas of the entire North Eastern region. This region comprising of eight states namely Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura has tremendous potential for production of Rubber Cultivation. Nine percent of the country s rubber production comes from the North-East India and Tripura is considered as the Second rubber capital of India by the rubber broad. There are six rubber nurseries in the North Eastern Region: Three in Assam (Cacher, Goalpara and Karbi Anglong District), Two in Meghalaya ( East Garo Hills and West Garo Hills) and one in West Tripura. In Karbi Anglong district of Assam there are about 5,000 rubber growers and covered total area under rubber plantation is around hectares. Rubber Board is planning to bring one lakh hectares under rubber cultivation in Karbi Anglong district alone. Keywords: Cash crop, Production, Cultivation, Region, Capital 1. Introduction Rubber is one of the cash crops which can earn huge amount of money by the people. India has 600,000 hectares of land under rubber plantations, producing about 750,000 tonnes of rubber annually. Nine percent of the country s rubber production comes from the North-East India. In North-Eastern region of India, about 113,685 hectares of land is under rubber cultivation including Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland. Tripura is considered as the Second rubber capital of India by the rubber broad after Kerela with 61,000 hectares of land under rubber plantation, producing 37,399 tonnes of rubber annually (Rubber Board ) and earning Rs. 600 crore annually. Assam, where rubber cultivation was launched even before in Tripura, has a potential for about two lakh hectares, only 42,097.01(Statistical Handbook of Assam 2015) hectares have been brought for rubber cultivation. Tribal populations are prominent in the north-eastern region. Traditionally most of them practised shifting cultivation following the slash and burn method, known locally as Jhum cultivation (the cultivators are called Jhumiyas ). It is even now practised extensively in certain parts and is causing serious soil erosion and other ecological problems. Rubber cultivation that has already attracted large-scale participation of tribals is proving to be an effective means of weaning away the Jhumiyas to settled cultivation. There are six rubber nurseries in the North Eastern Region: Three in Assam (Cacher, Goalpara and Karbi Anglong District), Two in 119

2 Meghalaya( East Garo Hills and West Garo Hills) and one in West Tripura. Regional Research Stations of Rubber Board have been set up in Agartala( Tripura) in 1979, Guwahati(Assam) in 1985, Tura( West Garo Hills of Meghalaya) in 1985 and Kolasib( Mizoram) in Rubber production in Assam: The Rubber cultivation has gained its popularity in Assam due to congenial agro-climate condition as well as its eco-friendly environment. The rubber Board has identified Assam as a Potential State for rubber cultivation. From the productivity point of view, Assam too has ample scope of rubber plantation. The Rubber Board has planned to enhance rubber plantation area to 2 lakh hectares at the end of 12 th Five year plan with the growing demand of rubber in the country which is expected to touch 1.78 lakh MT at the end of Rubber is cultivated in almost all the districts of Assam. Goalpara district is the leading producer of rubber in terms of production followed by Karbi Anglong, Karimganj, kokrajhar, Bongaigaon etc. District wise area, production and tapping area of rubber in Assam during the period , and is shown in the table No-1. Table No-1: District wise area, production and tapping area of Rubber in Assam District Area (In Productio Tapping Area (In Producti Tapping Area(In Producti Tapping Hectare) n (In MT) Area(In Hectare) on (In Area(InH Hectare) on (In Area(InHe Hect.) MT) ect.) MT) ct.) Kokrajhar Dhibri Goalpara Barpeta Marigaon Nagaon Sonitpur Lakhimpur Dhemaji Tinsukia Dibrugarh Sivasagar Jorhat Golaghat Karbi Anglong Dima Hasao Cachar Karimganj Hailakandi Bongaigaon Chirang Kamrup Kamrup Metro Nalbari Baksa Darrang Udalguri Assam Source: Statistical Handbook of Assam 2013, 2014 and

3 2.1. Growth trend of Rubber in Assam Statistical analysis of the area, production and tapping of rubber cultivation in Assam during the period to is shown in Table No.-2 and Fig. No. -1. Table No-2, Area, Production, and Tapping area of Rubber in Assam during the period to Year Area (In Hectare) Production (In Hectare) Tapping Area (In Hectare) Mean SD CV Decadal GR% Source: Economic Survey of Assam and Table No-2, clearly shows that there is increase in area with decadal growth rate of percent. The average (mean) land use over the decade was while standard deviation was The coefficient of variation (CV=SD/Mean) for a rubber cultivation area was percent. In terms of production there was an increase in rubber production over the decade with percent increment. The coefficient of variation for production was percent. The tapping area of rubber cultivation decadal growth rate was percent. 121

4 Fig. No. -1, Area, Production and Tapping area of Rubber in Assam during the period to Area Production Tapping Table No-3, shows that the price (Rs./MT) of the rubber in Assam during the period to , which is not consistence and years by years the value of the rubber price has been decreases. Table No-3, Price of Rubber in Assam to Year Price (Rs./MT) Total value (In Crore) Source: Statistical Handbook of Assam Rubber Production in Karbi Anglong District: Karbi Anglong district is one of the Rubber Cultivating belts of Assam which can play a major role in the fast expanding Rubber market not only within the country but also outside the Country. Karbi Anglong district has three geographical tracts, plains, hills with gentle slopes and hills with steep slopes. About 85 percent of the district is covered by hills. The district covering some sq.km is the largest district in Assam, which is about 13 percent of the State s total area. About 30 percent of the district s area is forest covering with dense tropical forest on hills and flat plains. The total cropped area is 18 percent out of which 68 percent is net sown. The rest is barren and uncultivable. The district is predominant by different tribes like Karbi, Dimasa, Kuki, Boro, Garo etc. Along with these tribe some non tribal peoples also live together in the district. The indigenous tribes traditionally practice jhum cultivation in the hilly area while sedentary or wet cultivation is widely practiced in the plains. The sub-tropical and temperate climate of Karbi Anglong district is congenial for growing plantations crops like rubber, tea, coffee, muga etc. Plantation of rubber and coffee was introduced in the mid 1950s. It will ensure socio-economic security of underprivileged people and thereby help them give up the harmful practice of jhum cultivation. 122

5 3.1. Growth trend of Rubber Cultivation in Karbi Anglong District of Assam: The total area covered under rubber plantation in Karbi Anglong district is around hectares. There are about 5,000 rubber growers in Karbi Anglong district of Assam. Rubber Board is planning to bring one lakh hectares under rubber cultivation in Karbi Anglong district alone. The Assam Plantation Crop Development Corporation and Soil Conservation Department together covers hectares of rubber plantation. The current yield of latex is 1200 kg per hectare which is 250 kg per hectare less than that of India. Statistical analysis of area, production and tapping area of rubber in Karbi Anglong district during the period to is shown in Table No-4 and Fig No-2. Table No-4: Area, Production and Tapping area of Rubber in Karbi Anglong district during to Year Area (In Hectare) Production(In MT) Tapping area (In Hectare) Mean SD CV Decadal GR% Source: Statistical Handbook of Assam 2013 and 2014 Table No- 4 shows relationship of land use in terms of area, production and tapping area during to in Karbi Anglong District of Assam. The area under cultivation had increased in this district in terms of decadal growth rate with percent. The decadal growth rate for production was 6.04 percent which is less than decadal growth rate of area under cultivation. The tapping area under rubber cultivation has increases with the decadal growth rate of percent. 123

6 Fig No-2 Area, Production and Tapping area of Rubber in Karbi Anglong Area Production Tapping Before the cultivation of rubber, maximum people of the district are mainly depends on jhum cultivation for their livelihood. But in the jhum cultivation people are not much getting profit whatever they are going to produce. But when they are started to cultivate rubber people are getting profit in this business. It increases the employment generation opportunities in Karbi Anglong District during the period to , which is shown is the table No-5. Table No-5: Generation of Employment in Rubber plantation Activities to : District/ State Employment Generation (In Mandays) Karbi Anglong Assam Source: Statistical Handbook of Assam 2010, 2011 and 2012 CONCLUSION: Assam is contributing a considerable chunk of India s total Rubber production and Karbi Anglong district has been an important Rubber producing district in Assam till now. Assam amongst other North Eastern States has immense potentiality in terms of Rubber production. But Cultivators are using primitive method of cultivation to produce rubber. Scientific and modern methods of production of rubber are rarely used. Hence production is not reaching the highest level. However one unique quality of rubber produced here is that it is produced in organic manner. In Karbi Anglong even though Rubber is Cultivated on bigger scale, fluctuating nature of rubber price have made the cultivators vulnerable in their livelihood as a rubber cultivator. Again they are subject to the exploitation of middleman and wholesalers. Factors like farmer s lack of awareness about the market value proposition of different processed of rubber products, lack of collective strength are landing them with loss or very less profit in rubber cultivation. Still they are clinging to it as soil here is suitable to rubber cultivation. But there is enormous scope to change the entire scenario. Rubber cultivation could prove to be biggest revenue earner not only 124

7 for the district but for the State itself. With abundance of natural resources conducive weather and soil condition for Rubber cultivation, other things required to enhance production would comprise of good post harvest management system, a strong value chain management system, a strong infrastructure for processing a good marketing policy favoring Cultivators etc. Once these facilities are provided, more and more cultivators from this district would start doing the rubber cultivation and thus it will boost the state s economy. References: 1. Assam Economic Survey and Censusindia.gov.in. 3. databank.nedfi.com. 4. Statistical Handbook Assam 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014,