Returning To Rubber

By Lalin I. De Silva (Former Editor, Ceylon Planter’s Society, Bulletin)

It is believed in business circles that the plantation industry is no longer a dominant force in Sri Lanka’s economy. The mantra currently making rounds in plantation circles is ‘Work wages – productivity & profitability’.

In my view, another equally important area linked to plantation industry which has been overlooked is suitability of growing rubber in many new, uncultivated areas.

Although my association with the plantation industry is over 40 years and I know only a little bit of the rubber industry, this article is primarily to explore the suitability of planting rubber (Havea Brasilliensis) in Matale District once again and hope that this will be an eye opener for the authorities concerned to consider same.

Sri Lanka State Plantations Corporation (SPC) together with Elkaduwa Plantations Ltd.) manages 21 tea plantations in Matale District, a total of approximately 13,770 hectares. Most of the tea plantations are agriculturally in very poor condition and not viable to continue under tea and an enormous amount of money is being spent by the government each year to upkeep these properties.

When I was the Chairman of the Regional Scientific Committee of Tea Research Institute  in the Kandy Region in 1996 along with P.B. Ekanayaka and S.T. Yatawatte of TRI Substation Hanthana, submitted a report regarding ‘Rehabilitation of tea plantations in the mid country’ with a view to increase the productivity having regularized the land utility system thus converting these estates once again to economically viable units.

 

Matale District

Matale District is in a northerly situated area of tea growing districts lying north on the main mountain core of Sri Lanka. Elevations range from about 100 to over 1500m. The major tea growing area lies along the central ridge from Elkaduwa to north of Rattota. In this area the elevation is generally above 700m. Few estates lie just west and south west of Matale Town. The Planting sub districts of Matale are Kellebokka, Matale South, Matale East and Matale North.

 

Climate and soil 

The climate in the district as a whole varies considerably. Soils are moderately well drained and have moderate water holding capacity. In general the condition for tea is not satisfactory.

The cultivation of rubber is generally undertaken on well-drained laterite type of soils or non lateritic red or alluvial soils. Matale receives an annual rain fall of about 2400 mm evenly distributed throughout the year. The ideal climatic conditions for the optimum growth of rubber trees such as rainfall, temperature, humidity and bright sunshine are prevalent throughout the year.

Rubber planting is an ‘environment-friendly’ land use activity having far less of an impact on environment than other crops such as tea or coffee and could be classified as ‘replaceable forestry’ creating a favorable change in the rainfall and climate of a district prone to earth slips. In addition it would have many economic benefits to the district and the people.

 

Potential development activities

There are many among the investing public and leading businessmen, who yearn to invest in plantation agriculture if the opportunities are available to them.

In fact a big player in the manufacture of motor vehicle tyres for domestic and export markets has shown interest in undertaking the cultivation of rubber in uneconomic tea lands in Matale District as a national priority.

The Company intends to set up its own state of the art manufacturing facility to produce high quality sole crepe, latex crepe and centrifuged latex using the latest technology to market the products direct to local and overseas end users thus obtaining higher prices and foreign exchange for the country. This company proposes to request the government to release approximately 1000 hectares of unproductive tea lands which is suitable for planting rubber as a pilot project. The objectives of this project are,

 

Enhance land productivity by replacing unproductive tea lands with highly productive rubber

Promote the planting of rubber in non-traditional areas and encourage indigenous population to plant rubber in village lands and home gardens thereby create self employment among village youth.

Increase the replanting extent annually by converting uneconomic tea lands into rubber. Implement research and development programmes to improve the agricultural practices and provide technical support to those who will plant rubber.

 

Value addition

Protection and conservation of the environment and improve the water reserves in the area which will eventually benefit the people and the Mahaweli reservoirs for downstream development.

Although, it is proposed to undertake a development programme to plant Rubber  in Matale with a view to increase the productivity having regularized the land utility system thus converting the tea lands to economically viable units, Ministry of Plantation Industries, Rubber Research Institute, Mahaweli  Development Authority and other relevant  bodies should also play a key role in this endeavour.

 

Conclusion

Even at this belated stage, due consideration should be given for the process of development of possible tea lands along with rubber with particular emphasis to Matale District as it has received step motherly treatment throughout. My personal view is that the proposed development process in Matale will definitely have an impact on the residents of estates, the adjoining villages and finally the country as a whole. According to government statistics the rubber production which had been booming till year 2011 when it hit 158,000 tonnes, and then it continued to fall each year and the production has come down drastically to 98,000 tonnes in 2014. Most probably we would see a further reduction in 2015!!!.

Survival of these estates will only depend on a satisfactory implementation of a proper development programme. Towards this vital task, minds of all concerned should be addressed with ‘national development’ in mind.  Let us not deviate from this opportunity. This is the time for the government to enforce and encourage the entrepreneurs and the growers to take up the challenge!!. Unfortunately many of our industrialists and policy makers do not appear to give the priority it deserves and always look for the ‘easy way out’.