Aizawl, July 18 -- The Mizoram government is accelerating efforts to transform rubber cultivation into a major driver of the state's rural economy through the Chief Minister's Rubber Mission, an ambitious five-year programme aimed at expanding rubber plantations by 11,500 hectares, an official said on Friday.

Speaking to reporters during a press conference here, State Land Resources, Soil and Water Conservation (LRS&WC) Director Vanlalmuanpuia Chhangte said the state has nearly 50,000 hectares of land suitable for rubber cultivation, but only around 7,000 hectares have so far been developed since rubber cultivation began in the state in 1982.

He said the government believes rubber cultivation offers multiple benefits beyond income gener...