Rubber plantation takes place extensively in TN’s Yercaud

Yercaud: Rubber is a profitable business. Therefore, a lot of emphasis has been given on the rubber plantation. Experts have been encouraging people to plant rubber. Taking this matter forward, scientists at the Horticultural Research Station of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Yercaud have shown massive interest in the farming of rubber. They sowed 500 rubber plants for the first time to see whether it is possible to grow rubber in this area.

Yercaud is famous for its coffee estates, but the experts have been exploring new crops that could surge the income of farmers. To develop the cultivation of rubber, they partnered with the Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII) from Kottayam, Kerala, for the study. Principal Scientist Mohammed Sadhik from RRII, along with other officials, went on to sow the rubber plants at the research station recently.

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Associate professor and Head of the Horticultural Research Station Malathi said that Yercaud and four other places in Tamil Nadu were chosen for the study. She explained that rubber is cost-effective to maintain and could bring good profits to farmers. Regular rain and mist make Yercaud a promising location for the cultivation of rubber.

The farmers of the area will start earning up to Rs one lakh per acre after six to seven years of rubber farming. Besides this, farmers could grow crops like millets or vegetables between the rubber plants, which will provide extra income to them.