BY LEIAO GEREGA
Lack of government support for the rubber industry in the cape Rodney area has seen production reduce significantly over the last 20 years, (since 1990s).
Stephen Youmi, officer in charge (OIC) of the Upulima division raised these concerns on recently with the Post Courier.
He said unlike in the past, where there have been 6 buyers operating at one time, Cape Rodney currently has only one buyer, SPV investment from Malaysia.
He also said there is there is no major processing of rubber except for smoked bales called cup lumps, with each area having their own figures of cup lump supplies to buyers.
Meanwhile at least 75, 000 maxi-bare rubber clones brought in from Malaysia in the last few years have overgrown and are awaiting government funding for further work to be carried out. This has affected laborers who have been laid off from work.
Youmi said hopefully a new government will recognise the potential of rubber because there is a lot of money in the rubber industry.
“Rubber hardly has any side effects, no pests, nothing at all to be worried about and if the government wants to create an economic change, it will be very good if they start with rubber”.
He said the Agriculture Minister, Tommy Tomscoll visited the area recently and has done major scoping on the roads in the area worth K2 million with likely developments to take place in the coming years.
Mr Youmi said they would like to get all the legal work surrounding land titles done before the area sees any major developments.
Under Cape Rodney Agriculture Development (CRAD) rubber development took place in Ianu, Manabo, Kokolens and later in Upulima in the 1980s.
The five-year project was supported by the Asian Development Bank with a K25 million funding. The industry however slumped in the 90s over lack of funding support from the government.