Rubber industry bread-winner for 500,000 families

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

COLOMBO: The Rubber Industry which is 130 years brings foreign exchange worth more than Rs 50 billion annually and it is the bread-winner of 500,000 families in the country.

An average rubber smallholder can earn Rs.35,000 per month in addition to the other benefits, said Director Rubber Research Institute Asoka Nugawela. He was addressing the Rubber Smallholders in the Western Province at the Mahaweli Centre recently.

He said one kilo of rubber is about Rs. 200 today and the farmers could collect rubber 25 days a month for 24 years and at the end he can sell timber as well.

Therefore rubber smallholders should be encouraged by these advantages. The rubber tree also remove Carbon Dioxide creating a healthy environment, Nugawela said.

He admitted that there are certain challenges due to the increasing cost of production but they should increase productivity to cover up the expenses, he said.

Meanwhile the rubber smallholders complained that they do not get the fertiliser on time and therefore they cannot get the maximum harvest. However, Chairperson Turu Saviya Sriyani Fernando said arrangements will be made to overcome that problem next time.