Project INROAD Expands Natural Rubber Plantations in North-East

Project INROAD, or Indian Natural Rubber Operations for Assisted Development, is a plantation expansion initiative for natural rubber in North-East India and West Bengal. By 15-16 July 2026, the project had created 1.8 lakh hectares of new rubber plantations against a target of 2 lakh hectares across 113 districts.

Project INROAD: Basic Features

Project INROAD was launched in the financial year 2021-22 with an estimated outlay of Rs 1,100 crore. The project is implemented by the Rubber Board of India and is financially supported by Apollo Tyres, CEAT, JK Tyre and MRF through the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association. The project covers plantation development, supply of planting material and farmer support in rubber-growing regions. More than 2 lakh beneficiaries, mainly small farmers, have received over 8.3 crore high-quality planting materials under the initiative.

Rubber Cultivation in North-East India

Natural rubber is obtained from the latex of Hevea brasiliensis, a tropical tree species. In India, the North-East region has emerged as a major rubber-growing area because of suitable rainfall, humidity and temperature conditions. The project has developed more than 200 nurseries for improved rubber clones. These nurseries supply planting material for new plantations and support the replacement of low-yielding stock with better varieties.

Implementation and Expansion Targets

Project INROAD has achieved nearly 90% of its plantation target, despite disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The plantation spread includes states and districts in North-East India and West Bengal, which together form the project area of 113 districts. The next phase is the Rs 145-crore INROAD Skilling and Production Efficiency Enhancement Drive, or iSPEED. This phase includes model smokehouses, post-harvest infrastructure and technical training for farmers to improve latex quality and production efficiency.

Important Facts for Exams

• Natural rubber is a plantation crop and an industrial raw material used mainly in tyre manufacturing.
• India is one of the major consumers of natural rubber, and domestic production is linked to the tyre sector.
• Hevea brasiliensis is the principal commercial rubber tree grown for latex extraction.
• Rubber Board of India is a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Production and Import Dependence

On completion, the project is projected to raise the North-East’s share in India’s natural rubber output from 15% to 40-45% annually. The expected output from the expanded plantations is around 3 lakh tonnes of rubber. India imports a large share of its natural rubber requirement, and plantation expansion in domestic producing regions is linked to supply augmentation. Project INROAD is described as the fastest expansion of natural rubber plantations in India over a short period.