আমার সম্পর্কে

আমার ফটো
Dhaka, Dhaka Division, Bangladesh
I would like to write and share feelings with visible world . Also like to travel and communicate with people.

রবিবার, ১ আগস্ট, ২০১০

Prospects of rubber plantation

Prospects of rubber plantation


Tithe Farhana

Rubber is so essential that it has been used since the beginning of modern civilization. It is the third consuming product in the world after iron and petroleum. Its varied use has made life easier and comfortable. The rubber trees are environment friendly.

Rubber is produced from the latex of rubber trees. British planters first brought it in this subcontinent during the early twentieth century. Rubber plantation was commercially launched first in Bangladesh at Ramu, Cox's Bazar in 1960-61 and up to 1970 a total of 7,000 acres of land was brought under plantation. After the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, the new government provided assistance for rubber plantation, improvement and growth of rubber industry. Rubber plantation was integrated as a special programme in the country's First Five-Year Plan. Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation (BFIDC) was asked to plant rubber trees on a total of 10,000 acres of land and the annual production target was set at 350 tonnes of rubber by 1977-78.

Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Sylhet, and Chittagong Hill Tracts were identified as the major rubber plantation areas. BFIDC was the sole authority to plant and produce rubber till 1978. Later, the government decided to welcome private entrepreneurs to invest in this sector and they were allowed entry in this sector in 1980-81. Currently, there are 1,300 rubber gardens across the country under private sector. The domestic production of raw rubber could meet only 35% of the country's demand until 1995. The rubber industry in Bangladesh got a boost in late 1990s, especially after the signing of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in 1997. Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided Tk 52.5 crore in phases from 1979 to 1995 and the government allocated Tk 13.5 crore for rubber production after CHT peace accord was signed in 1997.

Presently, the country has a capacity to produce about 30,000 tonnes of rubber a year. However, the production was estimated in 2007 at only 10,000 tonnes and in 2009 it was 16,000 tonnes. During the period from July 2005 to October 2007, BFIDC produced 5,692 tonnes of rubber -- 1927.03 tonnes in 2005-2006, 2002.74 tonnes in 2006-2007 and the remaining 512 tonnes in the first four months of fiscal 2008.

Rubber seed kernel is extracted for oil, used as lubricant, and application in soap and paint industries. Besides, its cake is also used as fertiliser and poultry feed. Full-grown rubber plants are the prospective source of honey. Affluent or latex processing wastes and residues can be used as fertiliser and making biogas for power. Mr. Motaher Billah Chowdhury, vice president of Bangladesh rubber garden owners association, comments: "Rubber trees absorb three times more carbon-dioxide and release oxygen than other trees. Rubber plantation can reduce air pollution and help maintain ecological balance". While the world is facing the affects of climate change, rubber trees can protect use from its bad effect.

Fallen leaves of rubber trees produce biomass. Additionally, rubber roots form net spreading over the top soil up to a depth 1 to 1.5 metres and increase the porosity of the soil. Rubber is a preferred fast growing multipurpose species for quick afforestation. It works as a good 'carbons sink' that will help reduce global warming. Rubber plantations have a green image and are inherently environment friendly. Properly managed plantations are self-sustainable ecosystems and could maintain a fair degree of biodiversity.

National Rubber policy should be framed for promotion of this sector. The rubber garden owner's association has been demanding formation of a Rubber Board, where a Research & Development wing will be devoted for continues improvement of rubber product. Lack of expertise in this sector is a big obstacle to its growth. The government or BFIDC can hire foreign experts for the time being for improvement of this industry and take steps for building necessary infrastructure for the sector.

Participation of Bangladesh rubber garden owners association in the `India rubber expo 2009' has played an important role in highlighting the prospect of rubber production in the country.

According to International Rubber Study group, there is a gap between production and consumption of natural rubber in the world. Present world production is 9.8 million tonnes against a demand for 10.11 million tonnes a year.

Researchers and planters have emphasised on community based farming and introduction of integrated farming system for rubber plantation and production. Since technology is prime condition for advancement in industrialization and agricultural development, it must put emphasis on this sector for doubling production to 60,000 tones a year by.

The writer is a development worker. She can be reached at e-mail tanes_of_mono@yahoo.com

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