Agartala, Oct 17:
In a landmark achievement for Tripura, **Dr. Debabrata Ray**, a distinguished scientist from the state, has been appointed as the **Director of the Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII)** under the **Rubber Board, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India**. He is the **first person from Tripura** to hold this prestigious position, marking a proud milestone for the northeastern state.
An alumnus of the **Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur)**, Dr. Ray earned his **Ph.D. in 2009** from the **Centre for Ocean, River, Atmosphere and Land Sciences (CORAL)**, where he specialised in **ecological niche modelling of rubber trees**. His academic background and extensive research have made him one of the foremost experts in natural rubber studies in India.
Before taking charge as Director, Dr. Ray served as the **first Liaison Officer** for the **International Rubber Research and Development Board’s (IRRDB)** **Non-Traditional Areas Specialist Group**, a post he continues to hold. The group focuses on enhancing cooperation among member nations and promoting **sustainable rubber cultivation in non-traditional plantation regions**.
Dr. Ray’s primary research interests include **plant nutrition, crop physiology, environmental stress management**, and the **use of remote sensing and GIS technologies in agriculture**. His pioneering work on **Hevea brasiliensis**, the principal source of natural rubber, has been extensively published in **leading international journals**.
As part of his upcoming initiatives, Dr. Ray is planning to host a **national workshop in Tripura early next year** to discuss strategies for **sustainable expansion of rubber cultivation in non-traditional regions**.
His appointment has been warmly welcomed by the scientific community and policymakers alike, who view it as a **significant recognition of Tripura’s growing contribution to India’s rubber industry and agricultural research excellence**.
