The State Land Resources, Soil & Water Conservation Department on Thursday organised a training programme on Scientific Rubber Cultivation, Harvesting Techniques, Post-Harvest Handling and Pest Management for rubber growers under the Mizoram Chief Minister’s Rubber Mission in Aizawl.
The inaugural session was attended by Chief Minister Lalduhoma, while Minister for Land Resources, Soil & Water Conservation Lalthansanga was present as the Guest of Honour.
After releasing a handbook on rubber plantation management, the Chief Minister said that although Mizoram attained Union Territory status over fifty years ago, the state lacked a crop that could distinctly establish its identity despite the hard work of its people. However, following the assumption of office by what he described as “the people’s government” and the implementation of focused policies, Mizoram was declared the Ginger Capital of India within a short period. He added that passion fruit also holds strong potential and is among the most promising crops of the state.
Highlighting rubber as another key crop, Lalduhoma said it offers immense potential for Mizoram to establish a strong agricultural identity. With the objective of transforming the state into a major rubber-producing region, the Chief Minister’s Rubber Mission was launched after extensive consultations with the Rubber Board of India and by studying the successful Tripura Rubber Mission, ensuring a well-planned and systematic approach.
The Chief Minister noted that progress under the Mission has exceeded initial expectations, largely due to the enthusiastic response from farmers willing to take up rubber cultivation. He assured continued government support and urged farmers to put in their best efforts, stressing that rubber cultivation requires proper technical knowledge and discipline. He encouraged participants to closely follow the training sessions, assuring them of sustained government backing.
The training programme is being conducted with experts from the Rubber Board of India and Servo Lubricants (IOCL), and aims to train around 550 rubber growers on scientific cultivation practices, tapping techniques, rubber sheet processing, post-harvest handling, and pest management.
Mizoram has nearly 50,000 hectares of land suitable for rubber cultivation. Rubber, a resilient crop, supports afforestation, aids water conservation, offers good market value, and provides usable timber for furniture and other purposes after its economic life. Considering these advantages, the state government has prioritised rubber cultivation.
The Chief Minister’s Rubber Mission was launched on October 18, 2024. Implementation by the Land Resources, Soil & Water Conservation Department began in early 2025, with 4.5 lakh rubber saplings planted across 1,000 hectares in Mamit district bordering Tripura and Bangladesh and Kolasib district bordering Assam. In 2026, the department plans to plant 11,58,750 saplings over 2,575 hectares across various districts. The Mission is planned for a five-year period, targeting coverage of 11,500 hectares under rubber cultivation.
Infrastructure support under the Mission includes construction of approach roads to plantations, provision of rubber roller machines and tapping tools, and facilitation of marketing arrangements. During the current year, 46.50 kilometres of approach roads are planned across 11 plantation locations.
Similar training programmes titled “Farmers Training on Scientific Rubber Cultivation, Harvesting Techniques, Post-Harvest Handling and Pest Management” will be organised soon in south Mizoram’s Lunglei, Hnahthial, Lawngtlai and Siaha districts.
