Developmental and research activities for supporting natural rubber sector for the welfare of growers are carried out by Rubber Board through the scheme “Sustainable and Inclusive Development of Natural Rubber Sector” in the Medium Term Framework (MTF) (2017-18 to 2019-20).  The development activities include financial and technical assistance for planting, supply of quality planting materials, support for grower forums and training and skill development programme.

Natural Rubber (NR) prices have been at relatively low levels during the recent years in domestic and international markets.  The domestic NR prices are highly sensitive to import of NR.  Hence, to regulate the import of NR, the Government has increased the duty on import of dry rubber from “20% or ₹ 30 per kg whichever is lower” to “25% or ₹ 30 per kg whichever is lower” with effect from 30.4.2015 in order to create demand for locally produced rubber. The Government has also reduced the period of utilization of imported dry rubber under advance licensing scheme from 18 months to 6 months.

This information was given by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

Import duty on dry rubber increased to bolster domestic rubber demand; utilization period under advance licensing shortened. The Government increased the import duty on dry rubber and shortened the utilization period for imported dry rubber under the advance licensing scheme to create demand for locally produced rubber; these trade measures operate alongside the Rubber Board's Sustainable and Inclusive Development of Natural Rubber Sector programme, which provides financial and technical assistance, quality planting material supply, and support for grower forums, training and skill development for grower welfare.