Rubber Board inaugurated four new Group Processing Centres (GPCs) at the Development Association of Nagaland (DAN) complex, Chekiye, Dimapur. Constructed with assistance from the Rubber Board, Government of India, the centres will serve the Hevsihe, NMSB, Lotsu and NZHU Rubber Producers Societies (RPS), marking a major step toward strengthening quality control and processing facilities for local rubber growers.

M. Vasanthagesan, executive director, Rubber Board, government of India, underscored the importance of establishing Group Processing Centres (GPCs) within localities to ensure timely latex processing and better returns for farmers. He explained that latex must be processed within three to four hours of tapping to maintain quality, failing which growers face reduced prices due to poor quality sheets. He noted that while GPCs remain limited, the establishment of 17 centres across Nagaland and the Northeast is expected to significantly benefit growers. He emphasized that the success of such initiatives depends on close cooperation between the government and farmers.

Dr. T. Siju, rubber production commissioner, Rubber Board, government of India, stressed the urgent need to improve tapping practices in Nagaland, noting that poor methods were affecting overall productivity. He cautioned that improper tapping could reduce the productive life of trees from around 25 years to nearly 15 years, resulting in substantial financial losses for farmers and communities.