THE GOVERNMENT of Sri Lanka has taken measures to cultivate more rubber to meet the rise in demand for the commodity in the local and international markets, according to the the Ministry of Plantation Industry.
Sri Lanka Rubber Research Institute (SLRRI), which recently expressed concern over the dwindling rubber output as farmers are shifting to other crops to gain more profits, introduces new varieties of rubber and clones that can be grown in dry zone and home gardens, respectively.
About 17,000 hectares of new rubber plantations have covered the districts of Moneragala and Ampara, and more areas in Hambantota, Mullativu, Vavuniya and Kilinochchi will also be planted with rubber, according to a statement by the Secretary to the Ministry, Sudarma Karunaratne.