As much as 45% of the natural rubber plantations in India are in the low-yielding ‘aged’ category, out of which one-fourth (11% of total) are over-aged, says an analysis of Rubber Board data on NR plantations by Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA).
ATMA has analysed age profile of NR plantations in India since the year 2000 for deriving trends. The study has concluded that the age profile of rubber trees has taken a turn for the worse over the years and long term availability of NR for meeting rising demand is a subject of utmost concern. ATMA members are the largest consumers of natural rubber in India accounting for 70% of total consumption.
According to the findings, the percentage of trees in the maximum yielding stage (in the age group of 11 to 20 years) has consistently come down over the last one decade. From 45.5% of the overall NR plantation in the year 2000, the percentage of trees in the maximum yielding stage has more than halved to just 19.4% in the year 2012.
At the same time, the percentage of aged trees (21-30 years old) in the plantations spectrum has alarmingly grown from less than 15% in 2000 to more than 33% in 2012. Aged and over-aged (above 30 years) trees have lower yields both in term s of quantity and quality.
ATMA Director General, Rajiv Budhraja said that consistent fall in high-yielding NR plantations and concomitant rise in low-yielding ones puts India at a grave risk of lower NR production in the coming years. At a time when other NR consuming countries have been consolidating their NR supplies by even developing plantations overseas, India is sub-optimally using even its existing NR resources by not resorting to timely re-plantation. A rubber tree has a gestation period of six to seven years, before the tree is ready to be tapped. Between 7 to 10 years, a rubber tree is tender-yielding followed by 10 years of maximum yield after which the yield begins to peter out.
“While recent instances of drop in NR production or cut in projected estimates were attributed to inclement weather, the fact remains that yields are under pressure in view of aging of trees in India. Low growth in yields can be gauged from the fact that the NR productivity, long celebrated as India’s trophy achievement, has plateaued in the last few years”, he added.
NR productivity (production per hectare) which stood at 1,903 Kgs per hectare in the year 2008 has come down to 1,823 kgs/ hectare in 2012.
It is believed that growers have not been willing to replant in view of long gestation period and high NR prices which even at lower yields have been considered to be remunerative. Accordingly they continue to tap aged trees. According to ATMA, growers need to be encouraged to re-plant with higher re-plantation subsidies. Since NR prices have come off from their peak levels currently, growers will be more receptive towards re-plantation initiative of Rubber Board. Any further delay will severely impact long-term interests of both the producing and consuming interests.
“In the next meeting of National Rubber Policy working group, we plan to raise this issue, he said.
– Business Standard
