By Akpan David, Calabar
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono has said that federal government is ready to boost the technical know-how of rubber farmers and boost capacity of the subsector.
He said rubber is an important economic tree crop which the government wants to invest much in to return to its prime position as a way of redirecting attention from oil.
The minister spoke through the deputy director of tree crop in the ministry, Mr B. C. Ukattah, at the Farmers’ Business School Workshop for women and youths on good agricultural rubber production in Nigeria on rubber budding techniques, rubber-based agroforestry and rubber mixed farming.
It was organised by the Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (RRIN) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for rubber entrepreneurs in 14 states of Nigeria.
He said, “Rubber is pivotal to the economy of the country. It ranks the third as a major foreign exchange earner after oil palm and cocoa. We cannot overemphasize the need to create awareness and improve the technical know-how of rubber farmers, tappers, processors and marketers through this Farmers Business School.
He said there are potentials of increasing natural rubber yield to 1200kg/ha.
He also assured that government will continue to provide for Rubber farmers at subsidised rate as well as earmarking of capacity building for farmers and extension support.
President of National Association of National Rubber Producers and Processors Association of Nigeria (NARPPMAN), Peter Igbinosun represented by the publicity secretary, said the workshop was very apt and that they will consistently ensure that rubber is no longer neglected.
Meanwhile, at least, 25 natural rubber farmers and entrepreneurs from the 14 producing states in Nigeria were introduced a new methodology called rubber budding.
Agricultural scientists and researchers at the Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (RRIN) took the rubber entrepreneurs through agroforestry and rubber mixed farming on how to maximise profits using land space of their plantations for snailry, honey bees production and rabbitry as well as inter-cropping.
The farmers learnt how to clone and regenerate rubber species genetically.
The rubber farmers who were taken round field trips were shown what is described as vegetative propagation method to multiply rubber species from nursery stage to plantation.
The farmers were advised that it was uneconomical to allow the land between lines of rubber trees to waste.
Dr Suleiman Idoko, one of the guides and resource persons at the institute enumerated why the farmers should utilise such space by inter-cropping in between the rubber trees.
“We advised rubber farmers to utilise the spaces between rubber trees by planting, especially cassava which is much in demand throughput the country and make added gain. Other crops and vegetables that can help the rubber tree to grow and which themselves can survive under rubber trees such as ogbono, okro, maize, bitter leaf, water leaf, groundnuts, pears, wallnuts are advised to be planted. These help the farmers not only to make additional profits but keep weeds away from the rubber trees..”
One of the farmers, Pastor Abichi Henry from Benue State, commended the Business School Workshop, saying it has afforded him to learn more to add value to his rubber business.
