Which state is the largest contributor to India’s total natural rubber production? 

• Experts have projected that India’s natural rubber (NR) consumption will reach 20 lakh tonnes by 2030, highlighting the urgent need to accelerate domestic production to meet rising demand and reduce import dependency. Status of Natural Rubber in India  • Natural rubber is derived from the latex of Hevea brasiliensis, a tree native to the Amazon Basin.  • In the financial year 2024–25 (FY25), India’s domestic production of natural rubber stood at 8.7 lakh tonnes. Geographical Conditions for Rubber production  • Climate: Hot and humid conditions with temperatures between 25-35°C.  • Rainfall: Annual precipitation between 1,800-2,500 mm.  • Soil Type: Deep, well-drained loamy or lateritic soils with good water-holding capacity.  • Altitude: Generally grown up to 300 meters above sea level. Rubber Production in India  • Kerala: The leading state in rubber production, contributing over 70% of India’s total output.  • Other states are Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Tripura, and Assam.