Context

• Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, George Kurian launched iSNR (Indian Sustainable Natural Rubber) and INR Konnect, initiatives of the Rubber Board on the occasion of the of the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Rubber Act, 1947, to elevate the global value of Indian natural rubber and promote sustainable production.

iSNR Platform

• Traceability certificates issued by the iSNR will verify the origin of rubber products and confirm its compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation.

INR Konnect

• INR Konnect, a web-based platform, designed to connect growers of untapped rubber holdings with interested adopters to maximise plantation productivity.

Rubber

• Rubber is an elastic material that can be stretched and then return to its original shape. It's used in a variety of products, including tires, clothing, shoes, and toys.

Conditions required for Plantation of Rubber

• Climate: Tropical climate
• Rainfall: 200 – 300 cm
• Temperature: 25 to 34°C with 80 % relative humidity
• Soil: Deep and lateritic fertile soil, deficient in phosphorus.

Types of Rubber

• Natural rubber: Comes from the latex of tropical trees and shrubs, such as the Hevea brasiliensis tree.
• Synthetic rubber: Artificially created elastomer or Made from petroleum and natural gas. ex: Nitrile Rubber (NBR), Acrylic Rubber (ACM), Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR) etc.

Status of Rubber Production

• Position of India in World: 3rd largest producer, 4th largest consumer of natural rubber and 5th largest consumer of natural rubber and synthetic rubber
• Largest rubber producing Indian state: Kerala >Tripura>Karnataka
• Largest Rubber Producer in World: Thailand

Rubber Board

• Executive Director: Mr. M. Vasanthagesan
• Statutory body constituted under the Rubber Act 1947
• Concerned Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry
• Headquarters: Kottayam, Kerala
• Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII) was established in 1955.