KOTTAYAM: Formulation of new policies is essential to increase the consumption of natural rubber for ensuring sustainable rubber price, said Sri. KM Mani, Minister for Finance, Government of Kerala, today at Kottayam. He was inaugurating the valedictory meeting of the Silver Jubilee celebrations of Rubber Producers’ Societies (RPSs). In addition to increasing the production and productivity, value addition of the produce is also needed for profitable rubber cultivation.
Rubber Producers’ Societies should be transformed as processing centres for making high quality products at reasonable price. He also said that interested RPSs would be included in the polyhouse scheme of the state Government.
Smt. Sheela Thomas, Chairman, Rubber Board in her welcome speech said that Rubber Producers’ Societies needed to play a vital role in enabling small growers to keep pace with the structural changes in the agricultural sector. The RPSs should take up the challenge of attracting younger generation to rubber cultivation, she also said.
While delivering his speech on ‘25 Years of Rubber Producers Societies’, Dr. Thomas J, Rubber Production Commissioner said that the activities of Rubber Producers’ Societies also had helped India to secure the first place in productivity.
Sri. K.M. Mani, Minister released a compendium of articles on RPSs published in ‘Rubber’ magazine by giving the first copy to Adv. Suresh Koshy. The four innovators who developed promising prototypes of new tapping devices, Sri. M.N. Sasidharan, Sri. M.G. Somanathan, Sri. P.K. Subhash and Sri. P.V. Joseph was honored in the meeting. Dr. James Jacob, Director, Rubber Research Institute of India introduced the innovators.
Inauguration of the distribution of soil health cards was done by Shri. C. Ananthakrishnan, Vice Chairman, Rubber Board by giving the first card to Adv. John Abraham Vilaparambil. While inaugurating the workshop arranged for the extension officers of the Board in the morning session, Smt. Sheela Thomas, Chairman, Rubber Board said that the realization of organizational goals of any organization depends on the sense of responsibility and passion of its employees.
The developments in the rubber sector are the result of the positive work culture of the Board, even in adverse periods. She hoped that the workshop on new tools of extension management would be beneficial to analyze the weaknesses and opportunities of the organization.
Dr. Thomas. J, Rubber Production Commissioner who delivered the introductory speech said that the service sector is undergoing serious changes. The stakeholders are more concerned about the quality of services given to them. The extension system of the Board should be prepared to imbibe the changes around the world, he said.
Smt. Tanie Thomas (District Coordinator, Kudumbasree), Sri. Maaney Paul (HRD Trainee & Resource Person, Kerala State Productivity Council) and Sri. Shamim Rafeek (Chief Facilitator, ‘Winner in You’) made presentations on the topics Peoples Participatory Movement, How to Become a Team Leader and Client Service Passion.
Board members Sri. K.N. Balagopal M.P., Sri. Joseph Vazhakkan M.L.A., Sri. C. Ananthakrishnan, (Vice Chairman, Rubber Board) and Adv. Suresh Koshy spoke on the occasion.
Source: Rubber Country
