Natural rubber global demand high

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

The global demand for natural rubber (NR) continues to be higher than supply and Sri Lanka would require 180,000 mt of NR by 2016 with a land productivity of 1,800 kgs per hectare which would result in NR prices to remain high in the future.

Director General ,Department of Rubber Development Wimal Rubasinghe said. He said that NR production has to be increased through productivity improvements in the short term and through increased rubber extent in the long term to meet this future challenge.

The Ministry of Plantation Industries expect to add 40,000 ha of new rubber extent during 2007 to 2016 under its development initiatives.

The major contribution which is 20,000 ha will come from Moneragala district. A donor funded project is underway to improve the rubber industry in (Small Holder our Growers Estate Development Programme)in Moneragala.

Rubber Development Department (RDD) has already established a nursery in Moneragala and facilitated the private sector to establish nurseries, Rubasinghe said.

Apart from that the Regional Plantation Companies will extend 12,500 hectares, 6500 hectares from traditional rubber growing areas and 1000 ha from Hambantota district.

Referring to major achievements during 2007 Rubasinghe said that the six rubber nurseries managed by the RDD has produced 1.34 million plants and has distributed another 1.02 million plants out of targeted 1.98 million plants.

Also inter cropping of 265 hectares have been achieved out of 300 hectare target for the year. Training of 3000 rubber tappers and bud crafters, provision of mature fertilizer subsidy for 2700 hectares of smallholder sector are also among them.

The upturning trend of natural rubber prices that prevailed in 2006, has further appreciated in first two quarters of 2007 making the monthly average RSS4 price Rs.219.61 in September which was Rs. 193.49 in January. Rubasinghe said that it was a sixty per cent increase when compared with that of September ,previous year.

Meanwhile a development policy is being prepared for the rubber sub sector considering the following policy instruments.

a) Improving the productivity and production, b) Quality improvement in primary processing, c)Production and Market integration, d) Human resource development and tapper training, e) Institutional reforms, f)Environmental protection by raw rubber processing factories.