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| Thursday, 19 August 2004 |
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Rubber industry has a promising future - Director RRI Aranayaka special correspondent The rubber industry, which is one of the main sources of our foreign exchange should be geared to face the world market by utilizing modern technology in the aspects of field production and latex processing, said the Director of the Rubber Research Institute Dr. L. M. C. Thilakarathna, addressing a meeting convened to mark the inauguration of a training program on latex-tapping at Wegantale, in Mawanella recently. The aim of this training program is to teach the finer points of latex tapping that would contribute to increased latex production and also protect tapping panels from injury and disease Dr. Thilakarathna said. The training program is of a 3-week duration, workshop inclusive of field practicals and lectures. Forty participants with GCE O/L and A/L qualifications comprised the 1st intake. On completion of the training a certificate will be issued to each trainee to vouch competence in rubber tapping. The rubber industry has a promising future. This is an inference that can be drawn basing on the international developments in relation to rubber. Though a "guaranteed price" for rubber is not on the agenda here, we can depend with some certaininty, that rubber will continue to fetch attractive prices, without any serious price declines in the world market because natural rubber is in great demand and the rubber growing areas are limited by geographical factors, Director RRI said. So any significant increase in rubber production has to spring from presently existing areas. The factor of geographical limitation in rubber production, in itself will pave the way for higher prices in the face of increasing international demand for rubber he said. Though rubber is cessed as a commercial crop, recent research findings have shown that just like forest cover, the cover generated by rubber plantations conserve soil water, hence the benefits of rubber are not only financial but also environmental, the Director RRI said. Chairman of the Thumsaviya fund Dr. Anura Dissanayaka said that the rubber tappers received low social recognition. It was a stigma attached to the profession. This old order will change, yielding place to new. The new program will fulfil in many ways the social status of the rubber tappers. The program was chaired by Ven. Siyambalapitiya Pagngnasekara, chief incumbent of Wegantale Bodhirukkaramaya Aranayaka. Rubber Extension Officer M. Dharmadasa too addressed the meeting. |
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