Opportunities and challenges of rubber plantation development and management in the CALABARZON [Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Philippines] Region

The Philippine is considered a minor player in rubber production in both the ASEAN Region and the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Contries (ANRPC). Among the ANRPC, the Philippines ranks 8th in terms of natural rubber production behind Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, China, and Sri Lanka from 2006 to 2011. Presently, our country has a total of 200,000 metric tons for the year 2015. Approximately, 80% of our productions are processed for the domestic end-users and 20% are exported to foreign rubber companies for high-grade processing. There are three major players in the rubber industry that include the public sector, private sector, and the group of rubber farm small-holders, and farmers' cooperative(s). The public sector provides information, advocacy, training and research, and credit and finance. On the other hand, the private sector provides production, processing, exportation, and marketing. Finally, the farmers' cooperatives are the sources of raw materials and unprocessed rubber from the third group. In the CALABARZON [Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal Quezon] Region, there are two groups of rubber plantations(s) namely: (a)plantations developed by the individual farmer(s) themselves or with the cooperative in the are; and (b) plantations developed through the NGP. Approximately, there are 293.30 hectares and 2,346 hectares established by farmers/cooperatives and NGP funded, respectively as of 2015. There are distinct opportunities for the development of plantations in the Region that include the availability of several thousand hectares of public and private lands that can be devoted for rubber production, adaptability of rubber to the region's agro-climatic conditions, availability of labor and technical information, accessibility of market for rubber products in Metro, Manila, and the biggest tire production facility which is Yokohama located in Central Luzon. Moreover, from the SWOT Analysis presented, rubber is a long-term crop (30-35 years) which is beneficial to both the farmer's group and industry. With proper management, rubber can be tapped as early as 40 months after planting. With this, it can help address poverty with the continuous production of latex used in the manufacture of rubber products needed in both household and industry levels. Likewise, with some adjustment(s) and modification in spacing rubber can be interplanted with cash crops, and fruit trees. Consequently, agroforestry can be integrated with rubber production. Finally, the increasing projected demand for rubber products in 2020 will require the establishment of village-level processing plants and resulting to the need for more rubber sheet machines among groups of farmers as shared facility. As such, other livelihood or sources of income will be generated in the rural areas. With the bright prospect of rubber industry in the Region, there is a need to prepare a 'Rubber Industry Road Map' in order to help address the challenges that include: supply of quality planting materials; establishment of nurseries, budwood gardens and demonstration farms; biophysical assessment of planting areas; assessment of clone trials; conduct of regular training for budders, tappers, and village level processors, development of a short-term course and degree program related to rubber technology and management; and production of quality rubber products. Finally, the road map will serve as the guidepost that provides a clear direction for a sustainable, productive, and environment-friendly rubber industry in the CALABARZON Region.