Daijiworld Media Network- Mangalore (KM/RD)
Pics: Prajwal Ukkuda
Mangalore, Feb 27: The growth of the rubber plantation productivity is the fruit of the collective efforts such as the timely feedback by rubber growers and research by Rubber Research Institutes, opined Sajen Peter, chairman of Rubber Board.
He was delivering the inaugural address at the zonal seminar on 'Rubber Plantation Extension,' organized by the Rubber Board at Hotel Moti Mahal here on Wednesday February 27.
The greatest challenge that India faces is the dearth of tapers which may adversely affect the production of rubber by 40 to 50 percent. It’s about time for all rubber growers to think in that direction, he suggested.
It must be noted that no rubber grower has committed suicide till date which shows that rubber could be an ideal choice for planters. It is highly essential that rubber growers have an understanding among themselves with regard to prices and sharing information, he added.
It is also a challenge for the rubber growers to constantly meet global expectations in terms of the quality of products by making use of the research done by rubber research institutes, he suggested.
Kannangi S Sheshadri, president of Malnad Rubber Producers' Society (RPS), Theerthahalli, Shridhar Bhide, president of Beltangady Taluk Rubber Growers Marketing and Processing Co-Operative Society Ltd, Gopalakrishna Bhat, president of Vittal RPS, Radhakrishna Hebbar of Neria Estate of Beltangady and O P Gangadharan, joint rubber production commissioner were felicitated on the occasion.
Sucharitha Shetty, president of Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat presided over the inaugural ceremony and K G Mohanan, joint rubber production commissioner (development) welcomed the gathering.
Rubber growers from Kerala and the state were present on the occasion.