<h1>India Expands Rubber Cultivation with RPD and RDNE Schemes, Offering Increased Support for Non-Traditional Areas.</h1> The Indian government has implemented two schemes, Rubber Plantation Development (RPD) and Rubber Development in North East (RDNE), to expand rubber cultivation. These schemes, part of the 11th and 12th Five Year Plans, offer financial and technical support for rubber planting in traditional regions like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and non-traditional areas including Karnataka, Maharashtra, and the North East. Financial assistance varies by region, with higher subsidies for non-traditional areas. New high-yielding rubber varieties and improved agro-management practices are being promoted to enhance productivity. Rubber consumption in India increased significantly from 2007-08 to 2011-12.