Rubber re-planting subsidy:

Corporate sector to benefit

Indunil Hewage

The Rubber Development Department’s rubber re-planting and new planting subsidy scheme will aim at providing around Rs 694 million for the benefit of the corporate sector and the smallholders in the rubber industry.

The rubber subsidy scheme is in the process of providing Rs 125,000 per hectare for the corporate sector and smallholders.

The corporate sector and the smallholders have been given a target to re-plant rubber in 5550 hectares during this year, of which the corporate sector is needed to re-plant rubber in 1850 hectares. Kegalle, Ratnapura and Colombo districts are under the rubber replanting process.

A Rubber Development Department senior official said they also hope to continue the subsidy scheme for 2011 and have requested regional plantation companies to increase the amount of rubber re-planting while covering more non-traditional areas.

The Government sector is currently maintaining seven rubber nurseries and private sector including regional plantation companies and small scale plantation companies are conducting a considerable number of rubber nurseries in the country.

With the purpose of increasing the rubber cultivation, the Rubber Development Department is facilitating cultivators by providing high yielding clones and training for rubber tappers.

In addition to that, intercrops such as bananas, pineapples, passion fruit and vegetables have also been grown among rubber cultivations to generate additional income for the benefit of rubber cultivators.