Experts have recommended the Tripura government impose a limit on rubber plantations, which have become a favoured cash crop in the region’s hilly areas. The scientists have pointed out that the government should halt new rubber plantation beyond 1.7 lakh hectares and promote intercropping to enhance carbon sequestration in light of the looming climate crisis. After Kerala, Tripura ranks as the second-largest producer of natural latex in India.
Rubber was introduced in Tripura in 1963, initially mainly as a soil-conservation measure, but later expanded rapidly as a commercial crop and livelihood option.
The state has provided land titles under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006 to forest-dwelling communities, resulting in the expansion of rubber plantations on most of these lands. To address tribal insurgency since the late 80s, Tripura introduced sustainable livelihood initiatives that led to extensive rubber plantation projects throughout the state.
“The state government is pushing for rubber-based industries, processing, and investment, rather than simply expanding plantations,” clarified a senior government official.
Push for rubber plantation started even before the Forest Rights Act
The state government formed Tripura Forest Development and Plantation Corporation (TFDPC) Ltd and Tripura Rehabilitation Plantation Corporation (TRPC) with assistance from the Rubber Board, cultivating over one lakh hectares of land, including fertile areas, even before the FRA was enacted.
The introduction of the FRA has seen rubber plantations flourish on plain lands, reaching their saturation point. Scientists have noted that widespread rubber monoculture has disrupted atmospheric balance, soil health, the local environment, and air temperature. They urge the government to halt rubber plantation expansion and prioritize intercropping immediately.
The study identified rubber cropping threats.
Months ago, amidst this discussion, the IGDC-CREFLAT Project, with external funding for forestry-based livelihoods, commissioned a study on rubber led by Sanjeeva Pandey, former PCCF of Himachal Pradesh.
Covering regions like Dhalai, South Tripura, Gomati, Sepahijala, and West Tripura, the just-concluded study found that rubber growers view it as a lucrative commercial crop. However, large-scale rubber monoculture poses risks to biodiversity, soil fertility, and water availability in streams and springs.
“The study suggests avoiding further expansion of commercial rubber monoculture and encourages diversified models like combining rubber with agar, fruits, and other agroforestry crops. It has attributed enhancing extension services, facilitating technology transfer from research institutions to farmers, and creating a policy to cap further rubber plantation expansion on FRA patta land,” said Professor Saudamini Das from the University of Delhi, an expert on the Rubber Study Team.
“Loss of biodiversity is probably the biggest environmental concern. Rubber plantations are often established as monocultures—large areas dominated by one tree species. Replacing natural forest or diverse vegetation with rubber can reduce habitat for birds, insects, mammals, and other organisms,” explained a biodiversity expert.
“Study’s cost-benefit analysis revealed that while a plantation might seem economically appealing to a farmer when only private costs and returns are considered, wider social and environmental costs can significantly alter overall economic benefits,” added Das.
Malabar Neem may be a viable alternative
Koushik Majumder, a biodiversity expert from the IGDC-CREFLAT Project, argued for Malabar Neem (scientifically known as Melia dubia) as a viable alternative to rubber monoculture due to its ecological and economic advantages for farmers. Malabar Neem is a fast-growing, deciduous tree species native to India, Southeast Asia, and Australia, widely cultivated for industrial timber, plywood, and pulpwood.
Majumdar highlighted this model’s potential for plantation development on patta land if properly assessed and planned. He also advocated expanding mango, bamboo, and other horticultural trees for their ecosystem services and sustainability.
The forest department officials confirmed that the rubber study team is preparing a comprehensive report examining the economic, social, and ecological implications of rubber and other monocultures to guide informed policy decisions and long-term forest management in the state.
Industries batted in favour of rubber plantation.
Keeping aside the experts’ call, Anay Gupta, president of the ‘All India Rubber Industries Association’, highlighted that the rubber cultivation area in Northeast India has expanded to 1.8 lakh hectares, setting the stage for manufacturing-led growth.
“The region is quickly becoming a cornerstone of India’s natural rubber ecosystem, thanks to growth initiatives like the Indian Natural Rubber Operations for Assisted Development (INROAD) project. The project aims to establish rubber plantations over 2 lakh hectares in Northeast India and West Bengal between 2021 and 2026,” claimed the industry representative.
Gupta pointed out that the significant growth in rubber plantations across Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram has turned these areas vital for India’s future rubber security. The large-scale expansion of plantations underscores the necessity for developing infrastructure to support the region’s burgeoning rubber economy. Industry estimates indicate that India faces a considerable gap between natural rubber production and consumption.
Despite growing domestic demand, especially from the tire and automotive sectors, local production has not kept up, leading to substantial import dependency. The extension of rubber cultivation in the Northeast presents a viable opportunity to bolster domestic supply and lessen reliance on imports in the long run, claimed the association.
“To achieve this transformation, the northeast needs a strong rubber manufacturing and MSME ecosystem, including processing facilities, rubber-product manufacturing units, testing infrastructure, skill development, and dedicated MSME clusters. Such investments could elevate the region from merely supplying raw materials to becoming a hub for value-added manufacturing,” Gupta noted.