Optimising smallholder rubber production through tapping innovations
2005
Mohd Akbar Md Said
Structural changes have resulted in the smllholding sector becoming the dominant sector in the present and future Malaysian runbber industry. The NR industry is thus facing a great challenge primarily because the sector covers about 87% of the rubber land and 90% of the national rubber production, the sector only produced 1296 kg/ha/year in 2004 which was 94% of that of the estate sector. Innovations by the malaysian Rubber Board, especially in latex harvest technology are designed towards increasing productivity and the income of smallholders. Ethephon and ethephon-based stimulant formaulations are developed especially for young mature Hevea trees tapped on panels BO-1 and BO-2, while gaseous stimulation viz, RRIMFLOW, REACTORRIM and G_FLEX are latex stimulating techniques for premium and older Hevea trees. Successful smallholders who uses the technology have significantly increased their rubber production up to three fold compared to the usage of conventional tapping systems, thus increasing the efficiency of tappers and smallholders. There is a great potential of further increasing tree and land productivity as the current rubber production is lower than the genetic potential of the clones planted.
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