Mobilizing for the Resurgence of Sri Lanka's Rubber Industry

The Sri Lankan rubber industry, once the bedrock of our economy, faces an alarming crisis. This crucial sector is now perched perilously on the precipice of decline. To safeguard our economic stability and protect the livelihoods of many, swift and determined action is imperative. Are you cognizant of the impending catastrophe? Will you join the endeavor to salvage this cherished industry?

We must first confront the stark truths:

Smallholder Dominance: A staggering seventy percent of our national rubber production is reliant on small-scale cultivators grappling with adversity.

Extended Maturation Period: Rubber plantations demand a protracted seven years to yield profit from initial planting.

Depleted Soil Conditions: Repeated rubber cultivation on the same lands has rendered our soil impoverished and barren.

Subsidy Withdrawal: The government's decision to withdraw rubber replanting subsidies this year delivers a severe blow. Many, especially smallholders, will grapple with income gaps until their rubber plantations mature, potentially driving a shift to other crops.

Lethal Leaf Disease: A lethal leaf disease has besieged our industry for three years with no discernible solution in sight. Furthermore, we suffer from an acute lack of real-time, scientifically validated data to assess the extent of the damage.

Understaffed Research Body: The Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka (RRISL) contends with a crippling forty percent understaffing issue, severely compromising its capacity to address multifaceted challenges.

Urgent Need for Remedies

However, despair is not our course. Instead, we must summon our collective resolve to confront these adversities head-on. Here is our path forward:

Scientific Research Protocol: Establish a robust research protocol to unearth the root causes behind the lethal leaf disease and other industry maladies.

Leverage Local Expertise: Harness the immense knowledge and experience of retired RRISL scientists and university professors to expedite solutions.

Economic Impact Assessment: The Ministry of Plantations Industries (MPI) must expeditiously assess the economic repercussions of this crisis and present their findings to our parliament.

Transparency and Accountability: Forge a mechanism for monthly reporting on disease control progress to uphold transparency and accountability in our endeavors.

Consequences of Inaction

Inaction portends dire consequences:

Social Unrest: Job losses and economic instability loom large, potentially leading to social upheaval.

Import Dependency: A faltering rubber industry could force us into heavy reliance on latex imports, exacerbating our existing USD shortage.

The Core of the Matter

The root of our troubles lies in the mismanagement of our plantations industry and the lack of coordination among stakeholders. This status quo is unsustainable.

Charting a Course

Let us rally around these key industry concerns:

Production Decline: National rubber production has plummeted from 140 million kgs in 1984 to a mere 70 million kgs in 2022.

Replanting Neglect: Year after year, we fall short of meeting annual replanting targets, imperiling the industry's future.

Clonal Vulnerability: Over 72 percent of our rubber cultivators pin their hopes on a single, vulnerable clone susceptible to the lethal leaf disease.

Data Inefficiency: Our nation and the MPI are deprived of real-time, data-driven insights into the industry.

A Call to Action

Our path forward is clear:

Comprehensive Research: Engage universities and researchers in a nationwide effort to unearth the underlying causes and implement data-backed solutions through real-time digital platforms.

Diversify Cultivation: Advocate for intercropping to reduce our overreliance on mono-cropping and mitigate the perils of climate change.

Expedite Technological Solutions: Accelerate the development of motorized spraying machines, enrich soil quality, and prepare for the ominous specter of widespread diebacks.

In summary, we stand at a crossroads where the destiny of our rubber industry hangs precariously. The moment for action is upon us, and the onus falls on our collective shoulders—policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders alike. The consequences of inertia are too dire to contemplate, and we cannot permit our cherished industry to falter. It is the 'last call' for rubber, and our resolute response will save livelihoods and fortify our national economy. Will you stand with us?

Lalin I. De Silva former senior planter, Agricultural Advisor,
former Secretary General, Ceylon Planters Society,
Editor of Ceylon Planters Society Bulletin & free lance journalist.