Finding workers to harvest latex regularly has become a major challenge for rubber plantation owners across India. Official estimates show that roughly 100,000 hectares of rubber trees currently lie untapped nationwide. Many tree owners live abroad and cannot manage daily farm work directly. Other growers hesitate to hire private tapping agencies because they doubt whether the work is being executed properly.

A digital bridge for growers and tappers

To solve this labor shortage, the Rubber Board is launching an online platform called INR Konnect to bring estate owners and tappers together under one roof. The system acts as a direct digital bridge where owners of idle plantations and willing tappers can register. To maintain quality and trust, only tappers already registered with the Rubber Board will be permitted to join the platform.

Under the scheme, Rubber Board officers will also visit plantations to conduct inspections and directly oversee tapping operations. Board officials expect this initiative to restart tapping on neglected land and boost overall national rubber production by 20 per cent.

Final checks ahead of rollout

Preparations for the portal are nearly complete, and the software has been submitted for an official security audit. Rubber Board Executive Director M. Vasanthagesan detailed the initiative during the annual conference of the United Planters Association of Southern India in Coonoor.

Board Chairman N. Hari confirmed that subject to approval from the Ministry of Commerce, INR Konnect will be made available to growers on a pilot basis within a month