North-East rubber cultivation mission has crossed 1.79 lakh hectares, moving towards its six-year target of two lakh hectares. Kerala's rubber nurseries have emerged as key contributors to the expansion.

Launched in 2020 with the objective of extending rubber cultivation to two lakh hectares across West Bengal and seven North-Eastern states by 2025-26, the mission placed Kerala nurseries at the centre of high-quality sapling supply under the Rubber Board's direction. In the initial phase, saplings were transported from Kerala in open railway wagons. The model later shifted after the Board mandated local production within North-Eastern states, prompting nurseries to establish operations there.

Nursery operators expanded by purchasing and leasing land, adapting to unfamiliar agro-climatic conditions and logistical constraints. Over five years 8.3 crore saplings have been produced and supplied under the mission. Among the key suppliers, the Vadakkel Nursery in Kottayam stands out, having supplied around 50 lakh saplings. Owner Raju Vadakkel said the 48-year-old nursery has achieved a historic milestone through its involvement in the project. The Rubber Board is now recommending the RRII-429 variety for cultivation in the region. Until recently, RRIM-600 was predominantly used. The shift follows findings from the Rubber Research Institute that RRII-429 is better suited to local conditions, including prolonged winter periods lasting around three months.

Vadakkel Nursery has already produced 1.25 lakh mother plants of the RRII-429 variety in the region. Rubber cultivation is currently progressing across 113 districts, involving 2.02 lakh farmers.