The Rubber plantation Industry of Sri Lanka has grown

The Rubber plantation Industry of Sri Lanka has grown,

developed and survived 133 years, despite many

challenges, the most devastating being volatile global market,

over which Sri Lanka has very little control.

Rubber extent.

The total area under rubber in Sri Lanka increased – marginally from 120,000 ha in 2007 to 122,000 ha in 2008 and to 124,000 ha in 2009 with an increase of about 2,100 ha and 3,100 ha respectively, being mostly in the low country Intermediate Zone viz Moneragala. The re-plantings also increased in extent; 5200 ha in 2007, 1,00 ha in 2008 and 3,600 ha in 2009. It appears very unlikely or unlucky that the rubber new-planting target of 40,000 ha in the non-traditional as desired, possibly due to several technical and non-technical issues and therefore, have to be still contended with 11th position in total global rubber extent and global Natural Rubber (NR) production.

Productivity.

Rubber has witnessed a 10 fold increase in yield per unit area during the last 133 years, The main reason for such an increase had been the genetic improvement of Hevea planting material an annual yield potential of more than 3000 kg per hectare, when grown under optimum conditions.

Issues.

Despite the impressive progress in rubber growing, the industry is plagued by a series of vital issues such as; the incapability of the aged tappers which can affect NR productivity the most, declining planted area, labor shortage, uneconomic holdings’ size (small holdings), low land and worker productivity, high cost of production, inadequate resources, social disparity, poverty in estates.

Plantation Management.

Plantation Management should set a corporate sector. crop productivity target of 3000 to 3500 kg/ha/yr. Indentify plantings/ holdings with low productivity levels and adopt non-conservative and more intensive but effective technology would provide enhanced annual replanting target of 5 percent in view of the rubber market revival forecast and go for RRISL 200 and 2000 series clone.

Move away from a conservative approach and adopt on innovative, non-conventional and professional approach in plantation management, Expand rubber planting in non-traditional areas and in uneconomic tea land in the low and mid elevations with appropriate technologies, Reduce the agro-chemical load by scientific manipulation.

Sri Lanka with its meager contribution of less than 2 percent in global rubber business too is likely to benefit.

to benefit.

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