The State government will take immediate steps to facilitate the disbursal of ₹20 crore due to rubber growers under the price stabilisation fund, which has been held up owing to technical reasons, Water Resources Minister Mons Joseph said on Tuesday.

Speaking after a meeting with Rubber Board Chairman N. Hari and senior officials at the Board’s headquarters in Kottayam, the Minister said the government would examine ways to extend the benefits of the price stabilisation fund to a larger number of growers.

The Board authorities highlighted a range of issues confronting growers, including the increasing menace of wild animals. Mr. Joseph said a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, with the participation of the Ministers for Agriculture and Forests, the Rubber Board Chairman and senior officials, would be convened to discuss these concerns.

The Minister also assured the Board that the government would adopt a supportive approach towards extending incentives for intercrops grown in rubber plantations, facilitating Forest Department permission for fencing and trenching in plantations located in forest fringe areas and introducing a welfare fund for rubber tappers.

Emphasising the need for coordinated efforts, Mr. Joseph said the State government and the Rubber Board must work together to restore rubber cultivation to its former prominence.

Published - July 21, 2026 07:27 pm IST