Despite price decline, provincial farmers have maintained rubber plantations. The area of cut rubber trees is now about 430 hectares but including mainly disposed old rubber trees and replanting areas. There are also 119 hectares switched from rubber to fruit trees.
Helping farmers to stable gardens
The areas of rubber trees in the province has continued to increase while latex price is declining, because of its long-term economic benefits, such as: latex, wood, substitute for forest trees; advantageous weather in Binh Duong; supporting policies from local government to farmers planting rubber trees.
Farmer Giap Quang Trung in Phuoc Hoa commune, Phu Giao district has been determined to keep his rubber plantation.
According to provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Director Nguyen Tan Binh, the department proposed preferential loans for agricultural production to help farmers as well as encourage investments from businesses.
Mr. Binh said, compared to other crops, rubber tree always brings huge profits. A rubber plantation having 400-450 trees/hectare, achieving an output of 70-80 kilogram and latex degree of above 30° can yield a profit of VND30-40mln/hectare.
In light of declining rubber price, the department recommends farmers to reduce fertilizer or invest in fertilizer once in rainy season. To first-stage rubber plantations, farmers should pay more attention to detect and handle timely harmful pests. To mature harvestable plantations, owners can decrease 5 workdays of rubber tapper per month to reduce latex yield and cultivate tree while waiting for price to rise. Old plantations need to be disposed for replanting.
Catch-crop combined with breeding
Farmers have combined rubber tree planting with breeding or catch-crop to wait for the recovery of rubber tree. Farmer Nguyen Huu Hiep in Cay Truong commune, Bau Bang district invested in a swine farm adjacent to his five-hectare rubber tree garden. He has complied well with regulations of facility and environment, thanks to biogas digester.
“Rubber tree has a lifespan of 25-30 years and long-term economic values. Therefore, rubber trees should not be cut off because of declining price”, said Mr. Hiep.
Farmer Giap Quang Trung in Phuoc Hoa commune, Phu Giao district has preserved his 20-hectare rubber tree plantation whereas many farmers have cut off rubber trees to grow pepper. According to Mr. Trung, volatility of agricultural prices is unpredictable; if farmers go after price, they would be soon brought to ruin. Rubber tree can still ensure living standard for farmers having determination.
Reported by Q.Nhien – Translated by Ngoc Huynh
