Executive Director M. Vasanthagesan made the announcement at the United Planters Association of Southern India’s annual conference in Coonoor on September 23, highlighting that many growers maintain plantations that are not tapped regularly for a variety of reasons.
INR Konnect is designed to capture detailed information on these idle estates, enabling tapping agencies to identify new sourcing opportunities while giving plantation owners a vetted list of credible service providers.
Vasanthagesan told The Hindu that the platform’s data‑driven matching could raise overall rubber output by roughly one‑fifth, provided the pilot proves successful and is scaled nationwide.
The pilot phase is slated to begin within the next four weeks, during which a limited set of growers and agencies will test the system’s functionality and data accuracy.
In parallel with the digital initiative, the Rubber Board is collaborating with the Bureau of Indian Standards to develop quality standards for compounded rubber, a response to rising imports and the current lack of a monitoring framework for foreign rubber supplies.
The Board’s dual approach—digitising domestic plantation management and establishing import standards—aims to strengthen India’s rubber sector against supply‑chain volatility and improve the profitability of small‑holder growers.