Agartala, July 4: A five-member delegation from the Tripura State Rubber Growers’ Association met with the Joint Rubber Production Commissioner of the Rubber Board on Friday to submit a 10-point charter of demands aimed at addressing the pressing issues faced by rubber cultivators in the state.
The delegation comprised Association Secretary Pranab Debroy, President and Jubarajnagar MLA Shailendra Chandranath, State Committee Member Lincoln Debnath, and two other representatives. Their demands primarily focused on farmer welfare, improved infrastructure, and fair market practices in the rubber industry.
Key demands included the reinstatement of the rubber plantation insurance scheme, free issuance of Rubber Plantation Certificates to growers, and targeted subsidies for poor and marginal farmers to purchase roller machines and construct smokehouses. They also called for the reopening of closed Rubber Processing Societies (RPS), and immediate intervention to ensure fair prices for rubber sheet sales by eliminating exploitative middlemen.
The association highlighted a serious concern: local middlemen are purchasing rubber sheets from farmers at suppressed prices and exporting them at significantly higher rates. They urged the Rubber Board to take concrete steps to ensure farmers receive fair compensation that reflects actual market rates.
In response, the Joint Rubber Production Commissioner acknowledged the legitimacy of the demands and assured the delegation that the Rubber Board would take constructive steps to address the issues. He emphasized the need to protect the interests of genuine rubber farmers and agreed that fulfilling these demands would contribute to the sector’s overall growth in Tripura.
The Rubber Board also committed to supporting the construction of 25 smokehouses to enhance post-harvest processing infrastructure, which is expected to significantly benefit small and marginal rubber growers across the state.
