Abstract
Despite it’s importance, latex harvesting in rubber plantations poses significant problems demanding high level of skilled workers and cost of production. Low frequency harvesting (LFH) instead of traditional half spiral-once in two days system (S/2 d2), appears to be a practical solution to arrest these issues. Reduction of harvesting frequency has been limited only up to once in three days (S/2 d3) for Sri Lankan genotypes. Therefore based on some preliminary investigations, the present study was aimed at developing a suitable protocol for harvesting the rubber tree once in four days with the half spiral cut length (S/2 d4). In addition to the small scale genotypic comparison, the study comprised the commercial testing of S/2 d4 system. The overall yield given by the traditional S/2 d2 was used as the standard for the comparison and the stimulation protocol of this system was adjusted to obtain similar yields. The yield given by S/2 d4 under the stimulation protocol, applying 3.3% Ethephon (ET) once a month was comparable with that of the traditional S/2 d2 only in the wet areas of the country. Latex physiological parameters assured the sustainability of the stimulation protocol in all genotypes tested except in RRIC 102. At commercial level, S/2 d4 system has resulted in 19% reduction in the cost of production, 22% increase in overall profitability, 26% increase in harvesters’ income and 50% reduction in worker requirement in harvesting. Potential long-term impact of this system on latex yields and socio-economic sustainability, awareness programmes and limitations of LFH in dry climates are also discussed.
Highlights
Harvesting latex from the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is considered to be the most costly operation contributing to ca. 1/3 of the total cost of production, in commercial plantations.It requires greater level of skill and this together with poor wage structure has led to the shortage of skilled harvesters (Rodrigo et al, 2004).The problem is aggravated with unfavourable weather conditions, interrupted working days, poor ground conditions, improper infrastructure facilities and lack of training programmes
There was a change in the stimulation protocols of new low frequency harvesting (LFH) systems in the attempt of achieving the standard yield, i.e. the level given by the S/2 d2 system
Obviously, low frequency harvesting (LFH) systems are capable of reducing the number of workers required for latex harvesting address the issue of lack of skill workers in rubber plantations
Summary
Harvesting latex from the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is considered to be the most costly operation contributing to ca. 1/3 of the total cost of production, in commercial plantations.It requires greater level of skill and this together with poor wage structure has led to the shortage of skilled harvesters (Rodrigo et al, 2004).The problem is aggravated with unfavourable weather conditions, interrupted working days, poor ground conditions (eg. weeds), improper infrastructure facilities (eg.long distance head carrying of latex) and lack of training programmes. 1/3 of the total cost of production, in commercial plantations. Harvesting latex from the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is considered to be the most costly operation contributing to ca. It requires greater level of skill and this together with poor wage structure has led to the shortage of skilled harvesters (Rodrigo et al, 2004).The problem is aggravated with unfavourable weather conditions, interrupted working days, poor ground conditions As a result large extents of productive rubber clearings have been left without being tapped regularly or tapped by unskilled harvesters, damaging the long-term yield potential of the rubber trees. Rubber tree is generally tapped along the half of the circumference of the trunk (S/2) at the frequency of once in two days (d2); each harvester is given two blocks of trees (tapping blocks).
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