Rubber Scheme
KERA Rubber Schemes
Overview
The KERA Project, in collaboration with the Rubber Board, implements two focused schemes to revitalize rubber production and encourage the production of certified planting materials in Kerala.
1. Rubber Replantation Scheme
Objective:
To revitalize rubber production by replacing old, uneconomic, and senile rubber plantations with recommended high-yielding, climate-resilient varieties on scientific lines.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Eligible Districts: All districts in Kerala.
- Landholding Size: Total rubber landholding owned must not exceed 5.00 hectares.
- Replanting Area: Minimum 0.10 hectares of contiguous land; maximum assistance is limited to 2 hectares per farmer (even in case of staggered replanting).
- Replanting Only: Applies strictly to replanting after felling and removing existing uneconomic trees; new planting or area expansion is not eligible.
- Land Ownership: Absolute ownership over the land is mandatory (leased land is not eligible). Land classified as a paddy field is excluded.
- Stand Density: Must dig 450 to 550 pits per hectare and establish/maintain at least 450 plants per hectare in Year 1, and a minimum stand of 420 plants per hectare in Year 2.
- Approved Clones: Planting must use certified polybag/root trainer plants of recommended clones (such as RRII-105, RRII-414, RRII-430, RRII-417, RRII-422, PB-260) sourced from Rubber Board–approved nurseries.
- Mandatory Training: Farmers must attend the mandatory training programs conducted by the Rubber Board.
- Application Process: Online application through the Plantation Directorate web portal with necessary document uploads (land tax receipt, possession certificate, sketch, nursery purchase bill), followed by field verification and geo-tagging by KERA Field Officers (KFOs).
Grant Support:
- Total Grant: ₹75,000 per hectare, disbursed in two performance-linked tranches via DBT.
- 1st Instalment: ₹55,000 per hectare (after felling, clearing, pitting, planting, and establishment).
- 2nd Instalment: ₹20,000 per hectare (after one year, subject to maintenance of minimum 420 plants/ha, weeding, manuring, and Phase-2 training).
2. Rubber Nursery Scheme
Objective:
To encourage the production and supply of certified, climate-resilient rubber planting materials by supporting the modernization and infrastructure development of private rubber nurseries.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Eligible Districts: Nurseries located in all districts in Kerala.
- Recognition: Must hold a valid recognition certificate from the Rubber Board.
- Operational Experience: Minimum 3 years of experience in rubber nursery operations.
- Production Capacity: Minimum annual production capacity of 1,00,000 quality seedlings (or having produced at least 20,000 Root Trainer/Polybag plants annually since 2022).
- Land Tenure: Established on owned or leased land valid for at least 5 years.
- Basic Infrastructure: Must maintain a 50–70 cents budwood nursery of approved clones, reliable perennial water source, and existing setup for root trainer/polybag production.
Grant Support:
- Financial Assistance: Maximum one-time assistance up to ₹6,00,000 per nursery.
- Cost Sharing: 50% cost-sharing basis across eligible modernization components, including: Construction of Polyhouse (up to ₹500/sq. m, max ₹1.5 lakhs), Weather Protection Sheds (up to ₹100/sq. m, max ₹75,000), Root Trainer Cup Stands (up to ₹100/sq. m, max ₹75,000), Sprinkler Irrigation System (50% up to ₹50,000), Fertigation Unit (50% up to ₹40,000), Borewell Drilling (50% up to ₹50,000), Plant Protection Sprayers (up to ₹32,000), Nursery Authentication Tags (100% subsidy up to ₹75,000 for 15,000 tags), Training and stipends for nursery workers, budders, and owners.
