ITANAGAR, Jan 5: Deputy Chief Minister, Chowna Mein attended a virtual meeting on Rubber Plantation with the Chief Ministers and Ministers of North Eastern States which was chaired by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal via Video Conferencing today.
Highlighting the potential of rubber plantation in Arunachal Pradesh, Mein apprised the Union Minister that due to suitable soil and favourable climatic conditions, all the districts having plain areas bordering Assam have immense potential for rubber cultivation namely, Pakke Kesang, Papum Pare, Lower Siang, East Siang, Lower Dibang Valley, Namsai, Changlang, Tirap, Longding etc. 
As per preliminary survey conducted by the Rubber Board, 25,000 hectares of land have been identified suitable for rubber plantation in the State, out of which 4,400 hectares have been brought under rubber cultivation and the remaining 20,600 hectares are available for expansion of rubber cultivation, it was informed.
Mein said that Rubber cultivation which was started in Arunachal Pradesh way back in 1980s by Rubber Board and Arunachal Pradesh Forest Corporation Ltd can replace the traditional jhum practices of the tribal communities in this Himalayan State. It has also become the centre of attraction for farmers in Arunachal Pradesh when the State Govt launched its Chief Minister Mission Mode Project on Rubber Plantation during 2012-13. He informed that under the scheme, free supply of planting materials, fencing materials, tools, equipments, transportation cost and maintenance cost up to 3 years for one hectare per beneficiary have been provided. He also added that the State Govt in collaboration with Regional Office of Rubber Board, Itanagar has conducted numbers of exposure tours for rubber farmers in neighbouring rubber growing areas and has also conducted numbers of training programmes on scientific plantation and tapping & processing of Rubber. 

Rubber farmers having matured rubber plantations have been provided smoke house and Rubber Sheeting Roller machine free of cost by the State Govt, he added.
Mein further suggested measures for promotion of Rubber plantation, Rubber Quality, Make In India, Farmer Income Augmentation etc for the State to the Union Minister. 
The meeting was also attended by Secretary, Trade & Commerce, Hage Tari and Director of Trade & Commerce, Tokong Pertin.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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