Nagaland inks MoU with RBI for NIRT

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Rubber Board of India (RBI) and Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Government of Nagaland, for setting up a Nodal Centre of the National Institute for Rubber Training (NIRT) at Rüzaphema, Chümoukedima, Nagaland. The MoU was signed on January 9, 2026, during the silver jubilee celebration of NIRT at Rubber Research Institute (RRI), Kottayam, Kerala.
The event was held in the presence of George Kurian, minister of State for Minority Affairs, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying; Chandy Oommen, MLA; M. Vasanthagesan, Executive Director, RBI; Dr. Siju T., Rubber Production Commissioner; Priya Varma, Director, NIRT; former directors of NIRT; senior officials of RBI; and Additional Director, DoLR, Nagaland.
Congratulating NIRT on completing 25 years of excellence, the Additional Director, DoLR, expressed delight at the partnership with RBI. He noted that Nagaland has more than 4 lakh hectares suitable for rubber cultivation, but only 20,000 hectares have been developed so far. Expanding rubber cultivation, he said, would boost the rural economy and positively impact ecosystem conservation in the region.
He thanked NIRT and RBI for partnering with the department through training and development, adding that their support reflected concern for the rural community. He further stated that the relationship between the department and RBI was longstanding, and with the inking of the MoU, the partnership would be strengthened to achieve the common vision of the “3 Es”—Ecology, Employment and Economy.
The Additional Director was accompanied by Project Officer, Directorate of Land Resources, Nagaland.