Outdated rubber act, a worry

By ANTOINETTE POIVI
THE rubber industry wants the Rubber Industry Development Act 2022 to be implemented, says PNG Rubber Board chairman Josephine Kenni.
She said the rubber industry had been struggling because the Rubber Act 1953 was outdated.
“We had a new act in 2022 and are drawing up the loop prints of the industry, the policies and strategic plans,” she said.
“Another challenge is to get out and do the business with the farmers.

For many years, they have been waiting. Unfortunately, not enough focus was given to the industry.
“We also need the Government to (support) the industry with funding, freight and price.”
She said other commodity boards were getting freight support, and if the rubber industry could also have that then people would be able to bring their stock to the markets.
“The price is very low because of the dry rubber content (DRC),” Kenni said.
“The price now is K1.50, but when farmers sell, the DRC is deducted.
“If you have 10,000 tonnes to sell, they take the 60 per cent off. So you’re only selling 40 per cent that’s DRC.”
Kenni said that farmers sold their cup lump for survival despite the challenges. Most farmers are coming up with not more than 10 bags a day.
They now have a new structure with a secretariat and 60 extension officers.

“The extension officers will be based in the rubber-producing provinces.”
The Government has given K5mil to build downstream processing, K3mil for the nursery and K10mil for a factory in Upulima.
Kenni added that every morning farmers tap their rubber trees between 4am and 6am because of its sensitivity to heat.
“After that the tree doesn’t given any more latex,” she said.
“So the rest of the day they are free to do gardening and other things.
“They can tap it again in the afternoon when it’s cooler.”