Natural rubber (NR) plantations under Project INROAD (Indian Natural Rubber Operations for Assisted Development) have reached a significant milestone, with 1.80 lakh hectares of new plantations completed in North-East India against a five-year target of 2 lakh hectares, according to the Rubber Board. Launched in FY 2021–22, the project represents the highest natural rubber plantation expansion in India within such a short span, covering 113 districts across the region.
Key Achievements of Project INROAD
Project INROAD is a first-of-its-kind global initiative where the Indian tyre industry directly contributes to rubber plantation development. It is financed by Apollo Tyres, CEAT, JK Tyre, and MRF, and implemented by the Rubber Board of India. The following table summarizes the project's major milestones:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| New plantations completed | 1,79,376 hectares (1.80 lakh ha) |
| Target | 2,00,000 hectares (2 lakh ha) |
| Achievement rate | 90% |
| Districts covered | 113 |
| Planting material distributed | 8.3 crore quality plants |
| Beneficiaries | Over 2 lakh small and marginal farmers |
| Nurseries strengthened | More than 200 |
Despite operational challenges including Covid-induced disruptions in the initial phase, nearly 90% of the target has been achieved. Mohan Kurian, Chairman of the INROAD Project, stated: "Despite several operational challenges including Covid-induced disruptions in the beginning, nearly 90 per cent of the ambitious target of 2 lakh hectares of new plantation has been achieved under Project INROAD during the last five years. Beyond plantation expansion, the project has also made significant progress in strengthening local nurseries and building grower capacities — a testament to the collaborative efforts of the tyre industry and the Rubber Board."
Supply-Side Implications for Natural Rubber Market
The completion of 1.80 lakh hectares of new plantations adds substantially to India's natural rubber growing area, with a special focus on small and marginal farmers who mostly hold land of less than one hectare. The distribution of 8.3 crore quality planting material and the introduction of new, improved rubber clones better suited to the agro-climatic conditions of the North East will boost future rubber yields. This expansion is expected to enhance India's domestic rubber production capacity over the medium to long term, potentially reducing reliance on imports.
Infrastructure and Capacity Building
Beyond plantation area, Project INROAD has rejuvenated nursery infrastructure. Over 200 nurseries are currently supplying high-yielding planting material to growers. The next phase, called iSPEED (INROAD Skilling and Production Efficiency Enhancement Drive), focuses on developing supporting infrastructure such as model smokehouses and disseminating improved practices among rubber growers. Kurian noted that "the infrastructure development being undertaken through iSPEED is expected to create significant value addition for farmers by improving the quality of rubber produced at the source." A large-scale educational and training drive is being planned under iSPEED, combining digital and contact training programmes; new training materials are ready for release.
Stakeholder Impact
The project has directly benefited over 2 lakh beneficiaries, improving livelihoods and socio-economic development in resource-constrained populations of the North Eastern states. By engaging small and marginal farmers, INROAD has helped integrate them into the natural rubber value chain, providing a stable income source.
Outlook
With 90% of the plantation target already met, the project is expected to complete the remaining 20,000 hectares in the near term, according to project officials. The ongoing iSPEED initiative will further enhance the quality and productivity of the existing plantations, strengthening India's position as a major natural rubber producer. Commodity traders and procurement teams should monitor the gradual increase in domestic supply, which could influence pricing dynamics for natural rubber grades such as RSS-4 and RSS-3 in the Indian market.
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