Northeast rubber cultivation expansion: Kerala's saplings under scrutiny for quality issues

Kottayam: A member of the Rubber Board has called for an inspection into the distribution of saplings aimed at expanding rubber cultivation in the northeastern states. The move comes as a section of nurseries approached the Board claiming that there are no takers for the quality saplings supplied.

Rubber Board Executive Director M. Vasanthagesan affirmed that, until now, rubber cultivation in the northeastern states has been progressing well under good supervision. However, in a recent board meeting, a member named Hari expressed suspicion that a group had taken control of sapling distribution, allegedly compromising the quality of the saplings.

The board member claimed that middlemen purchased saplings from small nurseries at low prices and then resold them at much higher rates. He noted that this alleged conduct is exploitative. He stated that some had purchased substandard saplings, which could severely impact the farmers’ yield.

Kerala, drawing on its expertise in growing high-quality saplings, has played a key role in providing 90 per cent of the saplings as part of the Centre's push for expanding rubber cultivation in the northeastern states. The expansion plan involves cultivating 2 lakh hectares in these states, with 70,000 hectares already implemented.

Meanwhile, a Kozhikode-based nursery owner who filed a complaint pointed out that the distribution of low-quality saplings could harm Kerala’s nursery industry. "If bad saplings leave from here, it will have negative consequences for Kerala's nurseries as well," he warned.