Prince Igbinoson Peter, National President of National Rubber Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria(NARPPMAN),has said that 95% of available rubber plantations across the country, are 40 years old .
He also said the plantations have been abandoned as their trees have been felled and used as firewood or furniture.
He disclosed this at the maiden edition of the 2021 National Rubber Conference in Abuja,where he also quoted the reports of the Central Intelligence Agency 2021 and Global Rubber Markets 2021, as of 2020, which said Nigeria is currently ranked 23rd in the world among the rubber producing countries.
He lamented that Nigeria has not taken her pride of place in the production and export of rubber.
He said: “Rubber as an internationally traded agricultural commodity that is in high demand all over the world, played a major role as a foreign exchange earner and contributor to the growth of national economy.
“If given proper attention, rubber alone can transform the economy of Nigeria and employ millions of people as it is proven to have some of the largest value chain.With over 50 by-products, in over 400,000 applications, rubber is rated among the most profitable agro-industrial ventures.It is infact considered the world’s fourth most important natural resource after air, water and petroleum.”
Peter noted that in the 1960’s that Nigeria was the highest producer of rubber in Africa and 5th in the world, adding that Nigeria is the third highest producer of natural rubber in Africa but producing at 6% of African total production as compared to Ivory Coast whose production is at 76% of Africa total production.
He emphasized that if priority attention is given to the production of rubber, it would go a long way in assisting in the achievement of sustainable development goals targeted to eradicate poverty, hunger, and improve decent work, economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure.
He said the association could provide 480,000 direct and 40,000 indirect jobs for the teeming youths from plantation establishment alone.
He implored the government to assist the Association in rubber production technology to further enhance the promotion and sustainability of rubber sub-sector as well as provide agricultural subsidies to rubber farmers.
Peter appealed to the government to provide other assistance such as processing machines, free construction of smokehouses in clusters for effective storage facilities, basic infrastructural facilities, agro-chemicals and fertilizers to boost rubber production.
He further solicited regular training for rubber farmers, provision of grants and soft loans at single digit interest rate as well as the involvement of the Bank of Agriculture, Bank of Industry and Nexim Bank in the development of the rubber sub-sector through provision of funds for small and industrial rubber farmers.
824000cookie-check‘95% Of Nigeria’s Rubber Plantations 40-Years Old,Abandoned’
