Mizoram targets 2,649-hectare plantation expansion under second phase of CM's Rubber Mission

Aizawl, Jul 17 (PTI) The Mizoram government aims to expand rubber plantations in the state by 2,649 hectares in eight districts under phase two of the Chief Minister's Rubber Mission, an official said on Friday. Launched in 2024, the five-year programme's objective is to expand rubber plantations by 11,500 hectares and turn rubber cultivation into a major driver of the state's rural economy. The mission entered its second phase this year, targeting 2,649 hectares across 117 clusters in eight districts, Mizoram's Land Resources, Soil and Water Conservation Director Vanlalmuanpuia Chhangte said. He informed reporters that 2,580 partners are participating in this phase with plans to plant 11.92 lakh rubber saplings. To encourage participation, the government has announced a comprehensive four-year support package for beneficiaries that includes providing free rubber saplings, replacement plants, annual supplies of fertilisers and plant protection chemicals, and support for fencing, among others, Chhangte said. Financial assistance will be released only after field verification of plantation work, and payments will be made directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts, he said. Chhangte said the government has also announced that 100 units of rubber processing machinery will be procured during the current year and provided to farmers with mature plantations who lack the resources. The third phase of the mission is likely to be launched in 2027, the officer said, adding the extent of the plantation coverage in this phase is yet to be finalised. Chhangte told reporters that the state has nearly 50,000 hectares of land suitable for rubber cultivation, but only around 7,000 hectares have so far been developed since rubber cultivation began in the state in 1982. The government believes that rubber cultivation offers multiple benefits beyond income generation, including reclaiming wastelands, conserving water resources, controlling soil erosion, and providing a sustainable alternative to shifting cultivation, he said. However, the high cost of setting up plantations has limited large-scale expansion in the past, he said. Chief Minister's Rubber Mission not only seeks to expand plantation coverage but also to resolve challenges faced by existing rubber growers and strengthen the marketing network for rubber products. Phase one of the mission began in early 2025, covering 1,000 hectares in Mamit and Kolasib districts. Under this phase, 936 beneficiaries planted about 4.5 lakh rubber saplings, and the government established 24 Rubber Plantation Clusters, each supported by a Rubber Producer Society to safeguard farmers' interests, monitor plantation quality, and assist in implementing the programme. PTI COR NSD