Strategies to curb declining rubber production

In such poorly managed estates, apart from bad taping practices, replanting has not been undertaken and fertiliser applications have not been done according to RRI recommendation for many years. Going by the new areas coming into bearing, it is clear that the maximum crop that can be expected in the country for 2017 would be even below 79,000 mt; even though the RDD expects this figure to go up to 85,000 mt. In order to rectify this situation,the Ministry of PIantations must obtain the assistance of the RRI to get the damage done to the plantation by such RPCs assessed and either to take over such badly managed estates to be managed by the State Plantation Corporation or to hand them over to a more responsible, different management company.

It is very disheartening to note that the relationship between the RRI and the plantations has seen an unprecedented gap during the past decade, due to unknown reasons. However, the Ministry of PIantation should intervene and take drastic measures to narrow this gap for the RRI to closely interact with plantations to implement their recommended agronomic practices improving their productivity at least to the national average; which would help to curtail importation of rubber for Board of Investment companies for value addition to some extent in couple of years.

It should be empathised here that the technology developed by the RRI particularly in agronomy is quite enough to convert these badly managed estates to reasonably profitable level by improving productivity within two to three years. It is very clear from the role played by RRI Sri Lanka scientists to convert rubber plantations in Myanmar and Cambodia to overtake total rubber production in Sri Lanka in less than a decade. When they first commenced consultancy productivity of rubber lands in Cambodia, the productivity was only 420 kg/Ha/Yr. But, they were able to increase it to over 850 kg/Ha/Yr in five to six years and hence, the total rubber production in Cambodia from 97,000 mt in 2014 to 145,200 mt in 2016; which is nearly double the total rubber production of Sri Lanka at present.

In order to increase productivity levels in Cambodia, what they did under the guidance of Sri Lankan scientists were : Planting quality plants of only authentic high yielding clones, and not substandard plants purchased from neighbouring countries. Maintaining stands at between 450 and 500 plants per hectare at maturity. Tapping techniques were corrected by stopping under girth tapping and commencing tapping at the correct height from the union at not exceeding 100 per cent intensity. Correct application of fertilisers containing recommended nutrient levels at the correct time of application. Draining, terracing and regular weeding of rubber farms to minimise nutrient losses due to erosion and evaporation. At present, they are taught to maintain bud wood and multiplication nurseries. They accurately followed our recommendations with good faith and were able to double their rubber production in less than eight years. Why not plantation companies in Sri Lanka too, plan to follow the RRI recommendation to increase the rubber production to reap benefits of the high price of rubber after 2019?

This is the time people South Asia are concerned about the environment because the world weather forecast centre predicted last week that in 2100, the temperature of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will rise by 2 degrees Celsius. If no attempts are made now by South Asian countries to minimise this temperature increase, what will happen to the productivity of our agricultural produce, the fish population in the ocean and even to the colourful coral reef which attracts many tourists to our country?

It is universally accepted that the contribution from the NR plantation to the environment is equal to the contribution to the natural forest. NR plantation helps to minimise the green house effect by sequestrating 10 mt of Carbon dioxide gas per hectare per year unlike other agricultural crops. Hence, those RPCs converting rubber lands to oil palm should be viewed with much concern about the ecological effect of the conversion of rubber estates to oil palm in this small island where we only have 18 per cent forest cover. The Ministry of Environment should be concerned about this potential danger and take adequate measures to rectify this problem to protect the country from turning into a desert.