The tribal farmers have expressed their interest in raising a rubber plantation in an area of over 700 acres in Maredumilli, Rampachodavaram, and Y. Ramavaram mandals in Polavaram district.

This comes as the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) in Rampachodavaram has pledged to expand the area under the rubber plantation. The crop has been providing a sustainable livelihood for the tribal farmers over the past decade.

"We have set a target to promote rubber plantation in 3,000 acres, including 1,000 acres during the financial year 2026-27. The tribal farmers are evincing their interest in the rubber crop", Polavaram district Joint Collector and ITDA Rampachodavaram project officer S. Prasanth Kumar stated in a release.

Mr. Kumar also said that the farmers would be connected to the Rubber Board for marketing and rubber processing activities. The officials of Agriculture, District Water Management Authority, Horticulture and Revenue authorities have been directed to submit a report by the end of May on the potential to expand the rubber plantation in the Polavaram district.