A Report on Current Activities on Rubber Research

7/27/2019 A Report on Current Activities on Rubber Research

1/17

A REPORT ON CURRENTACTIVITIES ON RUBBER

RESEARCH AND

DEVELOPMENT IN THEPHILIPPINESBy Mr. Rodolfo L. GalangDr. Romulo Cena, and Dr.Nicomedes P. Eleazar, Coordinator of DA-BAR NationalRubber RDE Program, and Director of Bureau of

Agricultural Research, respectively


2/17

The Philippine Rubber

Industry

In 2009, there is existing production area

of 128,337hectares that produced a

volume of 390,962 MT.Rubber has been elevated into one of the

priority crops under the High Value

Commercial Crops Program of theDepartment of Agriculture.


3/17

Prospects

Growing domestic and global demand for

natural rubber

Increasing price of rubber in the world market

Large potential areas suitable for rubber in the

Philippines, including Luzon and the Visayas,with suitable plantation managementinnovations.

Access to technical information/knowledge onrubber industry


4/17

Problems

Low yield per hectare due to poormanagement practices

Poor nutritional condition of trees, lack oftraining for proper harvesting

Poor infrastructure and marketingsystems

Tenure problems in expansion areas

Lack of planting materials for expansion


5/17

Government support and

current activities

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is

currently implementing the National

Rubber Development Program (NRDP),which attempts to gradually increase the

countrys rubber plantations.


6/17

The specific objectives of

the NRDP are:

To increase rubber plantation

To increase the national average yield from 1

ton per hectare to 2 tons per hectareTo improve quality of rubber production

towards meeting world standards for

competitiveness

To increase investments in the rubber industry.


7/17

The components of the

NRDP are as follows:

Investment Promotion and Facilitation

Production Support and Extension

Research and Development

Market Promotion and Development

Infrastructure Development


8/17

The research priorities

under R&D Component

Adaptation trials of recommended rubber clones and production

technologies

Budwood garden and seedling nursery development

Development of tissue culture methods for mass propagation

Pests and diseases control and managementManagement of tapping panel dryness

Demonstration farms establishment and maintenance

Harvesting technologies, adaptation and development

Latex processing and marketing

Rubber products development and promotionInfrastructure and facilities development for rubber R&D


9/17

The Bureau of Agricultural

Research

The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) is theagency of the Department of Agriculture (DA) that ismandated to coordinate agricultural and fishery

research and development activities, developpartnerships and linkages with local and international

research organizations, source funds from local andforeign donor institutions, strengthen institutionalcapabilities of the agriculture and fisheries sectors,

manage knowledge, and advocate policies towardimproved governance and progressive agricultural andfishery sector value chain.


10/17

The Bureau of Agricultural

Research

In support of the DA priorities, the Bureau

is currently providing support to the

implementation of research anddevelopment projects in partnership with

regional research centers and

universities.


11/17

Research projects

Ten (10) projects consist of performance trials ofrecommended rubber clones and demonstration ofseedlings nursery and budwood gardens. The projectsites are located in non-traditional rubber areas in

Luzon and Visayas, wherein there are large areas ofidle land and denuded hillylands.

These projects have common activities, namely:

Adaptability trial of different clonesEstablishment of rubber budwood garden and nursery

Establishment of demonstration farms

Information dissemination activities and training onskills development


12/17

Research projects

The performance trials in non-traditional

areas are located in the provinces of La

Union, Pampanga, Rizal, Laguna,Quezon, Mindoro, Palawan, Negros

Oriental, and Southern Leyte.


13/17

Research projects

Two laboratory research are being conducted

in the University of Southern Mindanao and therest are demonstration farms in traditional

rubber-growing areas in Mindanao. Thesedemo-farms are models of rubber-based

farming systems with intercrops of variouscash crops such as maize, banana, abaca,cacao, coffee, cassava and pineapple. The

projects are located in the provinces ofZamboanga, South Cotabato, Davao,

Bukidnon and Agusan Sur.


14/17

Significance

The project activities and accomplishments of

BAR have put up the groundwork for the

expansion of rubber plantations in the country,

especially in non-traditional areas. The

knowledge and experience gained by the

implementers through hands-on experience

and formal trainings and workshops have set

the stage for the continuous support to rubber

industry.


15/17

The Philippine Rubber

Research Institute

A very positive sign for the Philippine RubberIndustry is the issuance in May 2010 of theRepublic Act 10089 or the Act Creating the

Philippine Rubber Research Institute toDevelop the Philippine Rubber Industry. The

establishment of the PRRI aims to realize thegoal of economic development in thecountryside and improve the quality of life in

poor rural communities that depend primarilyon rubber industry. The PRRI will be "under the

control and supervision of the Department ofAgriculture"


16/17

Conclusion

The passage of the law creating the PhilippineRubber Research Institute is a milestone inPhilippine rubber industry. It signifies the

support being given by the government to theindustry. The BAR paved the way to the

creation of the PRRI. The research anddevelopment projects it has funded andimplemented through the research arms of the

Department of Agriculture and the universitiesprovided the stimulant for the growing interest

in rubber in the government and the investingprivate sectors.


17/17

Documents

A Report on Current Activities on Rubber Research