BENTONG, Dec 15 09 | Bernama
-- Risda is to introduce a new rubber clone for replanting which can produce a higher yield and better quality latex as well as lengthen the life span of the trees.
Risda deputy director-general (development) Datuk Ali Nordin Wahiddudin said Tuesday the new clone could produce between 2,600 kg and 3,000 kg of latex per hectare.
"This will give a lucrative income for rubber smallholders due to the high price of rubber in the market now," he said at the launch of a Risda replanting event in Kampung Troh, here. The event was officiated by Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.
Ali Nordin said cultivation of the new clone would overcome the reducing yield due to the dwindling acreage of rubber plantations nationwide.
He said the four million hectares of rubber plantation in the country had shrunk to one million hectares last year due to the cultivation of other crops or the land used for development.
Risda deputy director-general (development) Datuk Ali Nordin Wahiddudin said Tuesday the new clone could produce between 2,600 kg and 3,000 kg of latex per hectare.
"This will give a lucrative income for rubber smallholders due to the high price of rubber in the market now," he said at the launch of a Risda replanting event in Kampung Troh, here. The event was officiated by Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.
Ali Nordin said cultivation of the new clone would overcome the reducing yield due to the dwindling acreage of rubber plantations nationwide.
He said the four million hectares of rubber plantation in the country had shrunk to one million hectares last year due to the cultivation of other crops or the land used for development.
Malaysia is currently in fourth position as a rubber producer, after Thailand, Indonesia and India.
Meanwhile, Ali Nordin said Risda had allocated more than RM37.5 million to replant rubber in Pahang next year, covering 5,600 hectares.
So far, about 20,000 hectares have come under the replanting programme undertaken by Risda.
