Regional plantation companies to invest
Rubber re-planting process:
Indunil HEWAGE
Regional plantation companies have expressed their consent to invest
in rubber re-plantation process in the country.
Authorities in the rubber industry have also drawn some measures to
increase rubber production in the country.
Apart from that, intercrops such as bananas, pineapples, passion
fruit and vegetables will be grown among rubber cultivation lands to
generate additional income.
Speaking to Daily News Business, a Rubber Development Department,
senior official said Moneragala, Badulla, Hambantota, Anuradhapura and
Polonnaruwa districts and some parts of Killinochchi district and
Padiyatalawa and Mahawa areas have been identified as non-traditional
areas for rubber cultivation.
Kegalle, Ratnapura and Colombo districts have been used for rubber
re-planting process.
One thousand and eight hundred hectares have been re-planted in
traditional areas. Nearly one thousand and three hundred hectares have
been reserved for new planting in non-traditional areas.
Plantation Ministry official said that according to estimated figures
124,300 hectares are under rubber cultivation in the country. Total
rubber export earnings for the first four months in 2010 was Rs 7,887.21
million. Total natural rubber export for the first four months in 2010
was 23609595Kg.
Total local rubber consumption for 2008 was 80,127 metric tonnes and
it was 84,941 metric tonnes in 2009.
The Colombo Rubber Traders' Association Chairman M.S. Rahim said the
demand for rubber production in the country remains high despite the
prevailing inclement weather in the country.
He said that people engaged in the rubber industry would be able to
start tapping rubber once the inclement weather is over.
There is high demand for Crepe Rubber, Sheet Rubber and other rubber
related products in the country.
Sri Lanka exports 40 percent of rubber production, mostly in the form
of White Crepe Rubber and 60 percent of rubber production is being
consumed by local industries to manufacture tyres for trishaws,
mattresses and other by products.
Sri Lanka exports its rubber products to Pakistan, Malaysia,
Singapore, Turkey, India, Argentina among other countries.
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