Sri Lanka’s rubber industry to trial new cocktail mix
The rubber industry wants the government to assist the smallholders and the Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) to obtain the required funding to apply the recent cocktails researched by the Rubber Research Institute (RRI) costing Rs.12, 500 per hectare.
Colombo Rubber Traders Association (CRTA) Past President Manoj Udugampola told The Sunday Times Business that the government will have to call for funding to purchase the cocktail that has been developed by the RRI and help the smallholders since they are the worst affected by the pestilicious or pesta disease affecting the rubber plants.
In addition the RPCs will also have to be assisted in a bid to increase the production, he said. Production last year reached 65,000 metric tonnes (MT) and the government hopes to increase rubber production upto 100,000 MT per annum.
The RRI has carried out testing of different types of cocktails or chemicals on 14 blocks with 50 trees on each block in 14 different locations around the country.
Currently the leaf disease is spreading due to the adverse weather pattern experienced lately and since this disease is airborne it is said to spread very fast.
The private sector has requested the government to provide lands extending to 15,000 hectares in the non-traditional areas for cultivation of rubber plants in order to meet state plans to increase production. This will also help to curtail the spread of the disease especially in Moneragala, Kurunegala, Ampara and Padiyathalawa areas that experience dry weather conditions contributing to a lower infection rate of the pesta disease, Mr. Udugampola said.
In the meantime, the RRI is said to be fast losing its scientists and furthermore with its Director Susantha Siriwardena officially resigning this week the industry remains concerned that it could have an impact on the future of the rubber industry as well.
He is said to have been involved in bringing about significant development activities on the industry that has contributed to increased production.
In the meantime, the rubber industry is also faced with new policy measures adopted by trading nations like the European Union which will be calling for compliance on its new regulations pertaining to deforestation titled EU Deforestation Regulation to come into effect from December 31, 2024.
EU buyers will have to ensure that their products are free of deforestation and forest degradation as a result of which growers in countries like Sri Lanka will have to provide estate geo mapping and meet certain criteria.
Sri Lankan growers would require increased spending in the range of US$8 – 10,000 to comply with this new regulation.
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