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| Friday, 11 June 2004 |
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Developments in rubber agronomy inadequate to meet challenges by Dr. N. Yogaratnam,
Although after privatisation of estates in 1993, there has been an upward trend in production, registering 112,600 MT in 1997, but with the South-East Asian financial crisis in July 1997, the rubber prices in the world market slumped by about 50 per cent which again had a negative effect on rubber production in Sri Lanka. Over the past few months from about June 2003 prices began an upward movement which culminated in all-time high price last week at the Rubber Actions in Colombo. The net sales average (NSA), per kilo now stands at around Rs. 120 and the cost of production (COP) at estate level is approximately Rs. 80 per kilo. This is indeed a happy position to be in and all indications are that these price levels would be sustained and perhaps improved in the weeks and months to come. Nevertheless, Sri Lanka had not been a major producer nor an important exporter of natural rubber. Production decreased to such an extent that our rubber hardly found an overseas market. To add to these woes, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and India are the major production locations with yields of over 1,800 kilos per hectare annually. Sri Lanka's production stands at about 750 kilos per hectare. As of now, Sri Lanka occupies the eighth position in the world's NR supply, way behind the three South East Asian economies, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia and also India. Although significant progress has been made towards increasing rubber yields in Sri Lanka, there still exists wide yield gaps. Nevertheless, given the operational skills of estate personnel under private sector management, it will not be difficult to sustain a level of productivity which is in close approximation to the maximum attainable under experimental conditions. Nursery techniques One of the reasons for the present low yield levels is the use of inferior planting materials. The aim should be to achieve 500 healthy and vigorously growing plants capable of giving high yields in every hectare. Moreover, the current COP and rubber prices demand a productivity of approximately, 2500 kg/ha. Therefore, all new clearings should be capable of giving such yield levels for the rubber industry to be viable. ``Young Budding", a technique where planting materials are raised by green budding very young stocks grown in polybags is now popular in Sri Lanka. This technique is known to be effective in terms of cost and agronomic performance. Development of cost effective and efficient plant propagation and planting techniques are after care operations that are required to ensure vigorously growing uniform stand of plants that can reduce the immature period of rubber considerably should be given high priority. Integrated soil Significant developments have been made since late 70s in improving soil fertility, increasing efficiency of nutrient uptake, economising on fertiliser use improving methods of soils, water and nutrient conservation and weed management. While fertiliser misuse can contribute to environmental contamination, it is often an indispensable source of the nutrients required for plant growth and production. Unless the soil nutrients removed with the harvest yield are replaced in proper amounts from both inorganic and organic sources, crop production cannot be sustained. Soils fertility will decline. In the past, the emphasis has been on increased use of fertiliser; the approach now shifts to educating growers to use inorganic, organic and biological fertilisers optimally. Many plantations have completed three planting cycles of approximately 30 years per cycle. During this period, the commercial yields have risen from about 350 kg/ha to about 2500 kg/ha. With stimulation, nutrient drainage has become a still more significant factor. Development of degraded soil is another crucial aspect. Rubber nutrition therefore requires the judicious and integrated management of all sources of nutrients in rubber plantations. Prevention of erosion is equally important for maintenance of soil fertility and environmental protection. Reduction in the frequency of application of fertilisers to save few rupees on labour would be detrimental to both the soil as well as the plants on the long run. It would result in the risk of waste through leaching erosion, surface-run off and even scorching of immature plants if the weather turns to be unfavourable and therefore should not be practised. It is advisable that the annual requirement of fertilisers to immature rubber be split and applied in as many doses as possible. The frequency of application may be reduced without harmful consequences, when weather conditions are expected to be favourable. Soil scientists should bridge the research gap that still exists by developing appropriate integrated soil, nutrient and moisture management technologies for rubber based mixed cropping systems. The indiscriminate removal of large amount of mineral elements with the harvested intercrop can pose the problem of a marked mineral deficiency, although mutual benefits are also known to exist for a short period. The development package should include recommendations for rubber as well as for the intercrops under such cropping systems. Pioneering research rather than duplication should be encouraged. Mixed cropping It is known and accepted that rubber could be intercropped to optimise land use and hence to enhance profitability. Both sort-term and perennial crops could be planted in this regard. The spatial arrangements of rubber could be adjusted to suit the intercrop. Research has shown that it would be possible to interplant rubber with tea without any adverse effects on either plant, provided the recommended spatial arrangement and other agronomic practices are followed. The Benefit Cost Ratio, Net Benefit Investment Ratio and internal rate of Return, are expected to be in the region of 1, 2, 3, 73 and 31% respectively. Pests and diseases Rubber plantations in Sri Lanka are susceptible to incidence of more than 20 diseases of which 6 diseases, namely, White root disease, Black root disease, Colletotrichum leaf disease, Phytophthora leaf fall, Corynespora leaf fall and black trips have been identified as potential threads. The management strategies developed involve integrated control programmes by cultural, biological and chemical means with high priority for prophylactic measures. The pre-disposing factors conclusive for the out break of each pest and disease should be identified and prophylactic treatments adopted. Harvesting Exploitation of the rubber tree continues to be a crucial element governing the productivity of rubber lands. Unfortunately there is not one tapping system that will give the best results on all cultivars and under all conditions. In time of low rubber prices and high wages, the yield per tapper is of greater importance than the yield per hectare. Hence tapping systems which give a high yield per unit of labour are of considerable economic importance. The main goal is developing new technologies should be to lessen the number of tappers needed and boost the income of those who remain. That's a critical issue. Conventional systems should give way to innovative technologies that are in practice in competing countries. In conclusion, the sustainability of rubber industry should be assessed using the basic pillars, namely, productivity, protection (of natural resources and environment), stability, economic viability, social acceptability and political supportability. If any of these elements is lacking, sustainable development will not be achieved. Economic viability, is linked to prices. For a perennial crop like rubber, which has a long unproductive period, its supply cannot be regulated on an annual basis according to changing market conditions. The time lag between use of input materials and appearance of response is also long. Furthermore, the competition from substitutes, notably, synthetic, tend to aggravate the situation. In the strategy to increase production, all three aspects, increasing productivity, restoring productivity and preventing deterioration of productivity are important. |
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Produced by Lake House |
Rubber plantations still remain vital in the economy of Sri Lanka.
Rubber production in the country was at its maximum of nearly 155,000 MT
in 1978. The fragmentation of estates in 1975 and subsequent neglected
management however caused a steady decline in production, reaching a low
level of 105,000 MT in 1993.
