DPL enhances rubber supply chain in Moneragala
View(s):Continuing to strengthen the farmer co-operative societies in its loyalty network, Dipped Products PLC (DPL) distributed rubber plants to smallholder farmers in the Moneragala District under its flagship sustainability initiative: DPL Firstlight.
The plants for the inaugural distribution were sourced from a new nursery established by DPL. Setting in motion plans to continue the initiative annually, the company will expand the facility to hold rubber plants by three fold by the end of the year, the company said in a media release.
“Through the DPL Firstlight initiative, we have worked towards empowering farmers in the district for over 12 years. We hope with the distribution of these plants, which will be planted across the district, to vastly improve the incomes of our farming communities while contributing to the annual rubber production of the country thereby reducing the need to import rubber,” DPL Deputy Managing Director Pushpika Janadheera said.
Working closely with smallholder rubber farming communities in Moneragala, DPL has sought to support the essential contributions and value additions to the national rubber production while ensuring that farmers are guaranteed a fair price for field latex. The company further optimises the farmers’ ability to derive maximum yields by supplying essential agricultural inputs and equipment and complementing these efforts with education and awareness building.
Presently, smallholder farmers produce approximately 65 per cent of Sri Lanka’s annual rubber crop.