Meghalaya has become a leading rubber‑growing state in the Northeast, with 23,106.89 hectares cultivated under the Indian Natural Rubber Operations for Assisted Development (INROAD) project between 2021 and 2025, officials of the Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII) said.
The state aims to expand rubber cultivation to 26,000 hectares under INROAD, a program that targets 200,000 hectares across the Northeast and is supported by major tyre companies and quality planting material. Meghalaya’s rubber area has grown from about 10,000 hectares a decade ago to roughly 33,000 hectares today, reflecting farmers’ increasing interest in rubber as a long‑term crop.
In 2024 the state recorded its highest annual plantation coverage at 7,534.03 hectares, followed by 6,832.47 hectares in 2025. Earlier years saw 6,403.14 hectares in 2023, 2,044.71 hectares in 2022 and 292.54 hectares in 2021. Across the Northeast, 179,376.25 hectares have been covered so far, with Tripura and Assam leading.
The Rubber Board supports Meghalaya growers through a regional office in Tura and eight field stations, mainly in the Garo Hills, providing technical assistance. Rubber Producers’ Societies (RPS) offer collective access to infrastructure and processing, and there are more than 300 RPSs in the Northeast.
Efforts are underway to revive poorly managed plantations, with 2,000 to 3,000 hectares identified as untapped or inadequately managed. Two Group Processing Centres were established last year in Mendipathar, allowing growers to process latex into rubber sheets locally, potentially improving returns. The interaction highlighted the need for stronger plantation management, processing, and value addition to ensure sustainable growth for growers.
