Rubber Board & Geo-Mapping Initiative

Rubber Board & Geo-Mapping Initiative: Rubber Board to begin geo-mapping of rubber plantations in Kerala to enhance market access and ensure better prices for growers.

• About the Geo-Mapping Initiative: Aims to establish a deforestation-free supply chain for rubber products, boosting global marketability.

o EUDR mandates that all commodities entering the EU market must be deforestation-free after December 31, 2020.

• About Rubber Board: Statutory organization constituted under the Rubber Act, 1947, functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Functions of the Rubber Board: Development of the rubber industry through research, extension, and training activities.

o Maintains statistical data, promotes marketing, and undertakes labor welfare activities.

o Issues licenses to rubber producers, manufacturers, and exporters/traders (Rubber Board license is mandatory).

• Structure of the Rubber Board: Headed by a Chairman, appointed by the Central Government.

o 28 members representing various sectors of the natural rubber industry.

• Headquarters: Kottayam, Kerala.
• Functions through five departments: General Services Extension & Advisory Services → Research Services (Rubber Research Institute of India) → Training (Rubber Training Institute) → Finance