• The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce has recommended that natural rubber be officially recognised as an agricultural commodity.
  • At present, it is classified as a commercial and industrial crop.
• This recommendation aims to protect the livelihood of rubber growers, especially smallholders, by enabling access to agricultural benefits.

Significance of Reclassification of Rubber as an Agricultural Commodity

• Recognising rubber as an agri-commodity would allow growers to become eligible for agricultural subsidies and schemes that are currently unavailable to them.
• The reclassification may also open the scope for a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for natural rubber, helping stabilize income for farmers.
• In Northeast India, where agriculture is a major part of the economy, the reclassification could help tribal and small farmers shift to rubber cultivation, turning rubber growing into a more sustainable livelihood option.

• A reclassification would help align rubber cultivation with agricultural policy tools, thereby ensuring income stabilisation and livelihood security for small growers.
• About Rubber Crop 
  • Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) is a tropical plantation crop and the main source of natural rubber in the world.
• Conditions for Growth
  • Climate: Hot and humid climate; temperature range 25–35°C with high humidity.
  • Rainfall: 200–300 cm annual rainfall, well distributed throughout the year.
  • Soil: Deep, well-drained, lateritic soils rich in humus and nutrients.
  • Altitude: Ideally grown at elevations up to 500 m above sea level.
  • India is among the top six producers of natural rubber in the world.

• Major Producing Areas in India
  • Kerala – accounts for more than 70% of India’s natural rubber production.
  • Tamil Nadu – Kanyakumari district is an important centre.
  • Northeast India – Tripura is the second-largest producer, followed by Assam, Nagaland, and Meghalaya.
  • Small-scale plantations are also emerging in Karnataka, Goa, Odisha, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Q. Consider the following statements about Natural Rubber in India:

1. India is among the top six producers of natural rubber in the world.
2. Kerala is the largest producer of natural rubber in India.
3. Rubber requires a hot and humid climate with annual rainfall between 200–300 cm for optimum growth.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) I and II only
(b) II and III only
(c) I and III only
(d) I, II and III

Answer: (d)