Agartala, Oct 17:
In a landmark achievement for Tripura, Dr. Debabrata Ray, a distinguished scientist from the state, has been appointed as the Director of the Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII) under the Rubber Board, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. He is the first person from Tripura to hold this prestigious position, marking a proud milestone for the northeastern state.
An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur), Dr. Ray earned his Ph.D. in 2009 from the Centre for Ocean, River, Atmosphere and Land Sciences (CORAL), where he specialised in ecological niche modelling of rubber trees. His academic background and extensive research have made him one of the foremost experts in natural rubber studies in India.
Before taking charge as Director, Dr. Ray served as the first Liaison Officer for the International Rubber Research and Development Board’s (IRRDB) Non-Traditional Areas Specialist Group, a post he continues to hold. The group focuses on enhancing cooperation among member nations and promoting sustainable rubber cultivation in non-traditional plantation regions.
Dr. Ray’s primary research interests include plant nutrition, crop physiology, environmental stress management, and the use of remote sensing and GIS technologies in agriculture. His pioneering work on Hevea brasiliensis, the principal source of natural rubber, has been extensively published in leading international journals.
As part of his upcoming initiatives, Dr. Ray is planning to host a national workshop in Tripura early next year to discuss strategies for sustainable expansion of rubber cultivation in non-traditional regions.
His appointment has been warmly welcomed by the scientific community and policymakers alike, who view it as a significant recognition of Tripura’s growing contribution to India’s rubber industry and agricultural research excellence.
