Photo Courtesy: nenews
Agartala: Rubber growers in Tripura are shifting toward modern technology to protect plantations from a persistent fungal disease that caused widespread leaf fall last year. The Rubber Research Institute of India and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited have partnered to introduce drone-assisted fungicide spraying as a more efficient alternative to traditional manual methods.
The shift follows a significant outbreak linked to changing climate patterns, which damaged both the quality and volume of latex production. Experts at a recent rubber growers conference in Agartala warned that current weather conditions could trigger a recurrence, making timely and precise intervention critical for the survival of the state’s 1.1 lakh hectares of rubber crops.
Addressing the challenges, Kannan, Business Head of Mak Lubricants at Bharat Petroleum, stated, "Rubber plantations in Tripura witnessed a climate-related disease last year that led to large-scale shedding of leaves and affected overall yield. A similar problem has been affecting rubber-growing regions in Kerala for several years."
To combat the spread, researchers have introduced a specialized fungicide product that showed successful results during decade-long trials in Kerala. Director of the Rubber Research Institute, Debabbarta Roy, noted that traditional treatments proved ineffective against the recent infection. He emphasized that adopting drone technology not only improves the uniformity of chemical application but also lowers the environmental impact compared to older techniques.
With rubber cultivation nearing saturation in Tripura, officials are focused on protecting existing plantations rather than expanding land use. The industry aims to boost productivity by ensuring that research-backed technologies and modern management practices reach growers across the state.
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