Deputy Chief Minister & Home Minister Nagaland, Y. Patton launched a book titled “Economics of Rubber Plantation in Nagaland” written by Dr. N. Rentnungo Patton.
Addressing the gathering during the book launching ceremony at Mt.Tiyi College Boys Hostel on 18th November 2022, Y. Patton congratulated the author for successfully publishing the book and he was optimistic that through the publication of the book people of the state will be immensely benefited.
Patton said rubber plantation in Nagaland has occupied an integral part of the economic upliftment of the people and for their economic sustenance, where he added that rubber cultivation is also another alternative means of farming which has the potential to boost the economy and also create employment opportunity for the youths and sustain one's livelihood. Further, he added that the Government is trying all possible means in helping the rubber growers by way of providing various types of machinery to help in their endeavor and urged them to utilize the assistance judiciously as the objective of the Government is to uplift them in their venture.
Dr. N. Renthungo Patton- the author of the book while giving a summary of the book said the book is an extract from his doctoral thesis titled “Economics of Rubber Plantation in Nagaland: a case study of Wokha and Mokokchung districts" which was completed under the guidance and supervision of Prof. T. Zurenthung Ezung, however, the book speaks not just for the two districts but for the whole Nagaland.
The author stated that this book tries to analyze rubber plantations and their impact on the local economy of the state. The book reveals that there is a greater economic viability of rubber farming in the study area, given the right support system, rubber plantation has the potential to provide a sustainable source of livelihood to the rubber farmers and further boost the local economy.
The author also added that the potentiality of rubber farming being at its nascent stage is still not fully realized, where the author recommended some appropriate policy measures to be adopted for the benefit of the rubber growers, like the rubber board/government should give effective extension service for proper management of rubber plantation by organizing extensive training camp for farmers in the state, awareness programme for market intelligence of the rubber farmers is essential in the state. Government to introduce a minimum support price for farmers in the state to offset the loss incurred particularly during the fall in the price of rubber products in the market, proper markets should be set up in all rubber growing districts to facilitate the farmers to dispose of their products with low transportation cost. Rubber farming being profitable there is a greater need for appropriate policies being formulated to encourage rubber farming in the state, he further added.
(Zubenthung, IA Wokha)
