International development organizations and all levels of the Nigerian government have been asked to invest in rubber tree farming in order to preserve the environment by Rev. Inameti Umoh, Chairman of the National Rubber Producers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NARPPMAN) in Cross River State. He stressed the ecological advantages of rubber trees, such as biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, and lowering carbon footprints, in his call during Cross River State Rubber Week. He emphasized how rubber trees transform Greenhouse gasses into hydrocarbons, which they then produce over a 30-year period into medium-density hardwood in practically daily commercially feasible quantities.
More so, Rubber trees are more effective than other plants at removing and fixing carbon dioxide, which helps to reduce global warming. According to Inameti, there is a 14 million metric tonne yearly demand for natural rubber worldwide, and each rubber tree can extract a sizable amount of carbon dioxide. Rubber trees have an important environmental clean-up role, producing latex for a variety of rubber goods 150 days a year. He compared them to natural solar panels. Although output has decreased from its peak in the mid-20th century, Nigeria still remains among the leading producers of rubber in Africa.
Rubber trees offer continued benefits for 30 years of carbon sequestration.
Top producers of natural rubber worldwide include Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand. To improve yield and sustainability, several nations have made large investments in R&D. Nigerian rubber tree growers confront issues such outmoded farming methods, insufficient financial support, and restricted availability of high-yield cultivars. Notwithstanding these obstacles, the industry may be revived with the right investments and contemporary farming methods. One remarkable feature of pará rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) is their capacity to store carbon dioxide. Research suggests that a hectare of rubber plantation may store between 8.2 and 8.9 tons of CO2 per year.
By contrast, a hectare of tropical rainforest can store roughly 10 tons of CO2 annually, demonstrating the substantial role rubber trees play in sequestering carbon. Rubber trees also offer continued benefits for 30 years of carbon sequestration and a longer economic life cycle. The lengthy gestation period—typically seven years—before trees bear fruit is one of the biggest obstacles in the production of rubber trees. Small-scale farmers who require quick returns on their Investment may become discouraged by this protracted wait.
Fusing traditional knowledge with modern agricultural approaches.
Introducing intercropping systems with faster-yielding crops, offering financial support and incentives to farmers, and encouraging community-based rubber farming cooperatives to share resources and risks are some ways to address this problem. To increase rubber tree output, Dr. James Akande, an agricultural expert at the University of Ibadan, highlights the significance of fusing traditional knowledge with modern agricultural approaches. He says that one way to greatly increase yields is to use high-yield rubber clones and enhance pest and disease control procedures.
In addition, Dr. Akande is a supporter of government initiatives that give smallholder farmers Subsidies and encourage sustainable farming techniques. The potential of rubber tree farming is demonstrated by success stories from areas such as Kerala, India, and southern Thailand, which are bolstered by strong agricultural policies and research. The Rubber Board of India has raised Farmer income and Productivity in Kerala by promoting value-added goods, offering financial incentives, and putting in place extensive training programs for farmers.
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Governments can stimulate investment in rubber tree production by establishing rules that are beneficial to the industry, offering farmers low-interest loans and subsidies, and funding agricultural research and development. Organizations can help by providing technical training, encouraging Sustainable Agricultural methods, and making high-yield planting supplies more accessible. People may make a difference by supporting items manufactured from rubber obtained sustainably, lobbying for environmentally friendly policies, and getting involved in community-based activities. Nigeria has the potential to boost its rubber sector, support environmental preservation, and enhance the standard of living for smallholder farmers by taking steps to overcome these obstacles and capitalize on the advantages of rubber tree farming.