National Rubber Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NARPPMAN) members flagging off this year's Rubber Week in Calabar, Monday
NARPPMAN backs Ayade’s industrialization drive, targets 1m hectares of rubber plantation
[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]
National Rubber Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NARPPMAN) plans to grow at least one million hectares of rubber plantation in Cross River State.
This is aimed at significantly boosting the rubber sector of the state and also supporting the industrialization drive of the state governor, Professor Ben Ayade.
Besides this, the plan will also regenerate degraded lands and restore the ecosystem in the state.
National President of the association, Otunba Prince Igbinosun Idowu Peter disclosed this in Calabar while flagging off this year’s Rubber Week in the state.
This year’s event has as theme; The Place of Rubber in Cross River State Industrial Development and Regeneration of Degraded Lands for Restoration of Ecosystem.
He said, “We are happy to kick off this year’s Rubber week and we hope to create the needed awareness.
“We hope to grow our membership strength to over 2,000 and cultivate one million hectares of rubber plantation in Cross River State so as to support the industrialization drive of the state governor.
“We also hope to partner with the governor so that a minimum of 30,000 hectares of land be made available for small scale holders to cultivate rubber”, he said.
He stressed that the demand for rubber globally is very high and rubber plantation has been proven to help restore degraded lands, further emphasizing that rubber is a generational investment that will last for at least 35 years after a gestation period of 5 to 7 years.
He also disclosed that one hectre of rubber plantation contains at 555 trees and will generate a minimum of 100,000 monthly over 35 years.
He added that rubber has the highest bye product of any crop in the world and the association will help the state regain its lost glory in rubber production.
Also speaking, the State Chairman of NARPPMAN, Rev. Umo Inameti said the state occupies an important position as long as climate, soil, rainfall, temperature and labour are concerned in rubber cultivation.
He also said the rubber week is apt as it will create awareness and get more people involved in the rubber sub sector.
Oracle Today reports that this year’s Rubber Week celebration is held in collaboration with the Cross River State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
As part of the celebration, NARPPMAN will pay a field visit to the Royal Plantation at Biakpan, organise a conference on rubber and also pay a courtesy visit on the state governor, Professor Ayade among other activities.
