CSIR Director calls for improvement in rubber cultivation to meet global demand

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 15 (KNN) National scientific institutions should step up to promote rubber cultivation across India as the global demand of rubber products is increasing, said Dr N Kalaiselvi, Director General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR).

Inaugurating the One Week One Lab (OWOL)’ programme of CSIR-NIIST at its campus at Pappanamcode on Monday, she said, “We have to try to popularise rubber cultivation across the country as a climate-resilient and all-region crop wherever it is possible.”

She asked NIIST to take it up as a challenge. “Since Kerala is known for its heritage in rubber, NIIST can work with farmers and make rubber cultivation as an end-to-end support system, which will help create employment, rubber-based industries and farmers could be given more than enough benefits and advantages,” Dr Kalaiselvi said.

Talking about India’s dependence on a lot of countries for rubber-based products whether it is tyre or value-added rubber products, she said when the country is talking about Atmanir Bharat, self-reliance and Make in India initiatives, NIIST has to take up the new initiative by trying to promote more farmers into rubber cultivation and help them get a cherishable income.

She said NIIST can also promote interventions in coir and spices sectors of Kerala.

Noting that the next 25 years of India is scientifically important, Dr Kalaiselvi urged researchers to adopt one industry problem by each one of them and address it and take a maximum of three years to come up with a solution.  (KNN Bureau)