Rubber planting subsidy extended

Indunil HEWAGE

The Rubber Development Department (RDD) in collaboration with Sri Lanka Treasury have extended the "rubber new planting and re-planting state subsidy" for this year in an effort to facilitate and empower local rubber smallholders and regional plantation companies.

Accordingly, the Treasury has allocated over Rs 588 million this year to implement the project. Replanted and newly planted lands under the "rubber replanting and newly planting" subsidy are eligible to a financial subsidy of Rs. 150,000 per hectare for new planting and Rs.175,000 per hectare for re-planting. This subsidy will be paid in eight instalments. In addition, eligible applicants are required to fulfil the targets given by the RDD.

"For 2012, smallholders are given a target of replanting rubber (traditional areas) in an area of 1,800 hectares and 1,750 hectares for new rubber planting in traditional areas. Smallholders will have to utilize 1,250 hectares for rubber new planting in non traditional areas such as Moneragala ,Ampara and Badulla areas. In addition, some 1,500 hectares of land have been identified for regional plantation companies to re-plant rubber during 2012 ," a RDD senior official said.