M Vasanthagesan IRS, Executive Director, Rubber Board, and P Vishnuraj IAS, Additional Project Director of the KERA Project and Director of the Department of Industries and Commerce, handing over the signed MoU for the implementation of the KERA Project. Siju T, Rubber Production Commissioner (left), and Shyam Krishnan, Deputy Director Industries (right), are present.

The Rubber Board has entered into a Memorandum of Association (MoU) with the Department of Agricultural Development and Farmers' Welfare for the implementation of the 'Kerala Climate Resilient Agri-Value Chain Modernization' (KERA) project. This World Bank-supported initiative, spanning 2025 to 2029, aims to strengthen climate resilience and productivity in rubber and cardamom cultivation across Kerala.

The signing ceremony, held at the Rubber Research Institute of India in Kottayam, saw Rubber Board Executive Director M Vasanthagesan (IRS) and Additional Project Director of KERA P Vishnuraj (IAS) formalise the partnership. A parallel agreement was signed with the Spices Board, represented by Director Dr Rema Shree A B, marking a collaborative effort to modernise Kerala's agricultural value chains. The event also featured the launch of a specialised training programme for officials involved in project implementation.

Under the KERA scheme, rubber farmers across six districts, namely Kottayam, Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta, Kannur, Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram, will receive financial support of INR 75,000 per hectare for up to two hectares. Cardamom cultivators in Idukki district will benefit from enhanced assistance of INR 100,000 per hectare, similarly capped at two hectares per farmer. This financial intervention is designed to promote sustainable farming practices and improve climate adaptation capabilities.

The ceremony featured addresses from several key officials, including Rubber Production Commissioner Dr Siju T and Spices Board Director Dr Rema Shree A.B., who emphasised the project's potential to transform agricultural practices while addressing climate challenges. Dharmendra Das, Director Development in-charge of the Spices Board, highlighted the long-term advantages of adopting climate-resilient techniques. The proceedings commenced with a welcome address by Suresh C, KERA Procurement Officer, and concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Shylaja K, Joint Rubber Production Commissioner.

The KERA project represents a significant step forward in Kerala's agricultural development, combining financial support with technical expertise to create more sustainable and productive farming systems. By focusing on two of the state's key crops, the initiative aims to establish a model for climate-resilient agriculture that could potentially be replicated across other regions and commodities.

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Birla Carbon, a leading global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality carbon materials, has been awarded the prestigious Platinum sustainability rating by EcoVadis, ranking it within the top one percent of all assessed companies globally. This honour recognises the firm’s enterprise-wide leadership in integrating sustainability across its operations, innovation and value chain.

The evaluation specifically commended its strong performance across four key areas: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement. This achievement is further validated by extensive third-party certifications, with over 75 percent of operations certified to international standards including ISO 14001, ISO 50001, ISO 45001, SA8000 and ISO 27001, underscoring the consistency and strength of its sustainability management systems.

John Loudermilk, President and CEO, Birla Carbon, said, “This Platinum rating reflects the steady progress we are making in embedding sustainability at the core of our business. Our growth strategy is geared towards delivering sustainability through innovation, operational excellence and responsible practices across our global footprint. We continually invest in sustainability and circularity-driven processes, keeping our operations sustainably efficient while creating long-term value for our customers, partners, communities and employees. Our sustainability strategy, Share the Future, serves as a roadmap to a sustainable future and guides our actions towards our aspiration of reaching net zero carbon emissions over the next 25 years. Being recognised among the top one percent of companies globally is a testament to the commitment of our teams worldwide.”

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. recently conducted an educational seminar for local natural rubber farmers in partnership with the Surat Thani branch of the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT). This marked the 10th such event since the programme's inception in 2020, involving 50 local farm households. Attendees received complimentary fertiliser, developed with RAOT's expertise, as part of the ongoing support.

The seminar curriculum covered essential agricultural topics, including soil and plant nutrition, correct fertiliser application and methods to prevent contamination in natural rubber. To commemorate the 10th seminar, the programme was expanded to include guest speakers from local government, police and healthcare. These guests addressed broader community and safety issues, such as human rights for foreign and minority workers, road safety and occupational health. A particular focus was placed on practical well-being, with the local hospital director offering guidance on preventing injuries during tree tapping and managing encounters with poisonous insects.

Post-event feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. Many expressed that they gained new, systematic knowledge about cultivation practices, despite years of experience. Several noted that hearing directly from a rubber manufacturer reinforced the critical importance of purity in their product. Others found the health and safety advice immediately useful. The engaging delivery of the seminar was also highlighted, with one farmer mentioning a desire to recommend the valuable and enjoyable experience to peers.

This initiative is a direct implementation of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Yokohama Rubber and RAOT in January 2020. The MoU focuses on economic support for farmers and improving supply chain traceability, aligning with the company's Procurement Policy for Sustainable Natural Rubber. Hosted in the region where Yokohama’s Thai natural rubber processing subsidiary, Y.T. Rubber Co., Ltd. (YTRC), operates, the seminar exemplifies the policy's guideline to support small-scale farmers within the supply chain.

As a founding member of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), Yokohama Rubber is committed to advancing these principles. The company views such efforts as integral to creating shared value under its sustainability slogan, ‘Caring for the Future’, and contributes to broader United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through the promotion of sustainable raw material procurement.

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In a significant event for India’s rubber sector, Minister for Ports, Co-operation & Devaswoms V N Vasavan inaugurated a ceremony for the transfer of innovative latex-based paint technology. This eco-friendly paint, a product derived from natural rubber, was developed by the Rubber Products Incubation Centre of the Rubber Research Institute of India. The technology was formally handed over to Kerala Paints Industries Private Ltd., with the Minister highlighting the event's historic nature for launching a sustainable product and stressing the importance of increasing domestic natural rubber consumption to improve grower returns.

Rubber Board Executive Director M Vasanthagesan outlined the centre's role in converting research into market-ready goods, reaffirming the Board's dedication to creating innovative, value-added rubber products. The gathering also heard remarks from several key figures, including Mahatma Gandhi University's K V Dayal, RRII Director Dr Debabrata Ray, RRII Senior Scientist Dr Shera Mathew and Kerala Paints' Managing Director Midhun P Pullumettel.

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The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) has released its Monthly NR Statistical Report for November 2025, providing an overview of key developments in the global natural rubber sector.

While a modest rise in global production of 1.3 percent is anticipated for the year, this follows a revised, lower output forecast for Indonesia. Concurrently, worldwide demand is projected to grow by a more subdued 0.8 percent, bolstered by an upward adjustment in Indonesia's own consumption figures.

Recent price pressures have emerged due to this combination of uncertain supply, influenced by unpredictable weather patterns and generally muted demand. However, there are sporadic positive indicators, including noticeable recoveries within the tyre sector across some regional markets.

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