By EMMA OBI, Calabar –
Rubber farmers, processors and other stakeholders in the industry have called on the Federal Government to introduce measures that will buoy up the production of rubber and rubber processing in the country.
The stakeholders are of the opinion that government could assist the farmers and other stakeholders through the introduction of an intervention fund for the development of rubber plantations in the country.
This call was made in calabar shortly after stakeholders rose at a meeting to chart the way forward for the natural resource which they described as “irreplaceable and a goldmine that can compliment crude oil”.
Mr Peter Igbinosun, the newly elected national president of National Rubber Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NARPPMAN) made this call in Calabar in an interview with journalists.
Igbinosun advocates that the intervention fund should attract an interest rate of 3% to 5% per annum with a moratorium period of 3 to 4 years considering the gestation period of the rubber trees which he said is six years.
He recommended that the repayment period should spread over 10 to 15 years.
The president also advocated the establishment of an agency for bulk purchase of machinery/equipment, arguing that this will facilitate the acquisition of tractors, implements and land development.
He appealed that the rural development policies of the Federal, State and Local Governments be integrated to farm plantations in order to create the necessary infrastructures such as roads, bridges, electricity and water.
“Rubber, grown in 24 states of Nigeria, including Kaduna, Taraba, Kwara, Adamawa, etc as well as southwest and South-South states, has the capacity to create wealth; enhance non-oil sector foreign exchange earnings and can also greatly reduce crime and youth militancy.
“Rubber is in high demand all over the world, plays a major role as a foreign exchange earner and contributes to the growth of our national economy. Natural rubber is a strategic material as it cannot be replaced in many important applications.”Igninosun said.
He said there are over 50 by-products of rubber listing some to include Natural rubber latex products such as Adhesives, Mattresses, pillows, Seat cushions, Car seats, Baby feeding bottle teats, Condoms, Surgical, domestic and industrial gloves, Balloons, balls, rain boots, Rubber bands, catheters, carpet underlay, Paints, Liquefied Natural Rubber (LNR) such as adhesives amongst others.
The president listed other advantages to include ability to create employment opportunities to about 6000 people directly and 160,000 indirectly as service providers.
Similarly, the general manager of Royal International Farms and Estates limited, Mr. Usen Umoh said encouraging the production of rubber in the country is imperative and in conformity with the Federal Government’s aspiration to diversify the economy.
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