IVORY COAST in the African continent expects to produce 300,000 tonnes of rubber in 2013 as it plans to raise funds for developing new production zones of the crop. Output this year was lower than expected, at 230,000 tonnes from a forecast of 250,000 tonnes, according to the Rubber Development Fund.
Next year, the funds raised will sponsor 5,000 rubber farmers and create new plantations spanning about 49,421 acres in the West African nation. The fund, which is managed by the national natural rubber trade association Apromac, seeks to boost production to 600,000 tonnes by 2020 if it can attract donor funds to finance its expansion plans.
Natural rubber produces its crop year-round while cocoa, which is Ivory Coast’s largest commodity and also the world’s largest grower of the crop, is harvested twice a year. (RJA)
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