Decline of Producer Societies Threatens Industry
India is one of the world’s leading natural rubber (NR) producers, contributing 5.4 per cent of global production in 2023 (FAO, 2025). Ranging from defence, health, and industrial sectors, especially for tyres—to toys, NR is not only a vital commercial commodity, but also a strategic resource of national interest. Ironically, the farmers who cultivate this…