The Madras Rubber Factory (MRF) is all set to hold a partnership summit to promote quality rubber in the state – an endeavour that the company hopes will provide better rubber for the products it manufactures. The summit will provide a platform to interact with the stakeholders of the rubber fraternity.
MRF is the largest tyre maker in India and the biggest consumer of natural rubber having deep roots in the procurement activity in Meghalaya and Assam.
In a press release by MRF, the demand for natural rubber in the country is in an exponential growth. However tyre companies are forced to depend on imports due to lower production and shortage of quality rubber sheets in the country.
“Currently around 22 per cent of rubber produced in the country is traded from North East India. However, 60 per cent of the rubber produced here is of lower quality that cannot be used by the tyre industry. Growers are not getting the desired farm gate price due to the lower quality of material from the region,” said the press release.
MRF, being the largest purchaser of sheet rubber from the domestic market takes considerable initiatives to ensure that there is an improvement in the quality of rubber produced and the growers get maximum farm gate price.
“As a preliminary initiative MRF has organised a gathering of rubber growers and dealers at MMCS community Hall, Mendipathar on February, 18 at 2 pm with the help of Rubber Board of India. This meeting will help the growers to open up their issues and the industry can share the challenges that they are facing due to the availability of quality material,” they added.
The meeting will be led by Arun Mammen, vice chairman & MD of MRF Limited with T D Shira, Deputy Speaker will inaugurate the function. Dr KN Raghavan, IRS, chairman & executive director, Rubber Board of India will give the keynote address for this event while DC of NGH, RP Marak will also be present.