August 13, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries in Sri Lanka is focusing on expanding rubber cultivation to non-traditional areas across the country. The Rubber Research Institute has launched an experimental program aimed at identifying new rubber varieties that are well-suited to these regions, resilient to local conditions, and capable of yielding more latex.
As part of this initiative, 14 new rubber clones have already been tested, and research is ongoing on 22 additional clones. Ultimately, 10 of these clones will be submitted for recommendation under interim guidelines.
To successfully expand rubber cultivation to non-traditional areas, it is crucial to identify suitable rubber species for each specific region. In response to a request by Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, the government has allocated Rs. 20 million to support this research and development effort.
The government plans to expand rubber cultivation to drier climates, such as those in Badulla, Monaragala, and Ampara, moving beyond the traditional rubber-growing areas like Kalutara. This year, 115 hectares of new rubber cultivation will be established in these non-traditional areas, using the newly researched rubber clones.
