Kottayam, Sept. 1 -- Jharkhand is one of the few states in the country with potential for rubber cultivation and the Rubber Board was presently conducting cloning tests at Birsa Agricultural University in Ranchi for varieties which could be recommended for commercial plantation in the state, officials said on Tuesday.

Currently, Kerala is the rubber capital of the country, followed by Tripura and other north eastern states in terms of total area covered under rubber plantation.

Rubber Board is a statutory body under the Union ministry of commerce & industry, which acts as the torchbearer for growers in terms of scientific research, developing clones and nurseries of plants, promotion of plantation in association with the stakeholders, i...