Rubber farmers call for introduction of GM plants amid price slump and pest attacks

Rubber farmers advocate for genetically modified plants to modernize plantations and combat pests, urging government support.

Rubber farmers under the aegis of the National Consortium of Regional Federations of Rubber Producers’ Societies have called for the use of genetically modified (GM) rubber plants, especially in traditional areas, as part of modernising the plantations and rekindling farmers’ interest in continuing with rubber planting amidst dwindling prices and increasing incidence of pest attacks.

“Genetically modified plants, which can resist diseases and changes in climate, may be produced in large scale and used in replanting especially in traditional areas,” said a memorandum submitted to Union Minister of Commerce Piyush Goyal by the rubber growers.

The need to introduce GM rubber plants is urgent despite the consideration that States such as Kerala have refused to provide permission to use them, said Babu Joeph, general secretary of the consortium.

He feels that there is no way of modernising rubber plantations other than using GM rubber plants. “The government must open its eyes to this fact and act in keeping with the changing times,” he added.

Sources formerly with the Rubber Research Institute said the efforts to develop GM rubber plants has been on for around 15 years now. Kerala has consistently refused to give permission for trial runs on the GM plants. The Rubber Board had also approached the government of Maharashtra for permission but was refused.

Rubber Board director Jessy M. D. said the board had sought permission from States such as Kerala to hold trials on GM rubber plants after the Rubber Research Institute took up the cause. Since permission was denied, the board had approached the Assam government, whose permission enabled experimental plantation of GM rubber on an acre in Assam in 2021. Similar trial run has been on in Tirpura as well from June 2024.

Mr. Jessy said these are on an experimental basis and the GM plants are not ready to be distributed to farmers in large numbers.