1. Consultation-Workshop Output Feb.14, 2009 Apo View Hotel, Davao City
RUBBER
Consultation-Workshop Output
Feb.14, 2009
Apo View Hotel, Davao City

2. PROFILE Very profitable agri-industrial crop
Labor-intensive thus benefitting hundreds of thousands of Mindanao farmers
Booming ($) since 2004 until Q4 of 2008
D.A. estimates: 1.2 M hectares in Mindanao can be planted to rubber
International Rubber Forum: Global demand and use of natural rubber will progressively increase- 15M tons in 2035

3. ISSUES / CONCERNS: RECOMMENDATIONS PRODUCTION PROCESSING MARKETING
OTHERS
RECOMMENDATIONS

4. I. PRODUCTION CONCERNS
Declining quality and low productivity due to poor technology and senility of trees
Introduction of and access to high yielding clones (DA)
Training on new rubber farm technologies (DA, TESDA)
Utilization of modern technology for better market opportunities (DA, TESDA)

5. I. PRODUCTION CONCERNS
Aging pool of technical experts
Training of young farmers to become the new pool of experts (DA, TESDA, “Local Experts”, Private Consultants)
Poor farming techniques
Training on new rubber farm technologies (DA, TESDA, Schools)

6. PRODUCTION CONCERNS
High cost of production inputs
Govt subsidy to support farmers’ needs on fertilizers, planting materials, farmers’ basic needs, etc. (DA, DOLE, LGUs, NFA)
Unutilized land area suitable for natural rubber
Massive rubber planting (rubber growers/farmers)

7. Improve growers’ access to high-yielding clones
I. PRODUCTION CONCERNS
support to business groups
Improve growers’ access to high-yielding clones
Technology and research support
Standardization of quality of produce
(DA, TESDA, Experts)

8. II. PROCESSING CONCERNS
Lack of infra support (e.g., road network from farm to processing facilities)
Antiquated processing plants
Farm-to-market roads
Rehabilitation of antiquated processing plants (DPWH, LGU, DA, LBP, DBP)

9. II. PROCESSING CONCERNS
Lack of technology/training on village-type processing
Establishing/strengthening village-type processing plant
Training on operation of village- type processing plant
(DA, TESDA, DOST, Experts)

10. II. PROCESSING CONCERNS No rubber testing laboratory
Establishment of rubber testing laboratory (DA, DOST)
Lack of raw material to maximize use of available processing facilities
Intensification of planting activity for higher volume of produce (Farmers/Growers, LGU/LAs)

11. II. PROCESSING CONCERNS support to business
Low Interest credit facility for rubber-based businesses
Support for rehabilitation of processing facilities
Support for village-type processing initiatives and linking them to big processors
(GFIs, LGU /LAs)

12. III. MARKETING CONCERNS
Defective weighing scales of unscrupulous traders
Establish Timbangan ng Bayan (DTI, LGUs)
Lack of established Buying Stations
Establish accessible and regulated buying stations (DTI, LGUs)

13. III. MARKETING CONCERNS Adulterated rubber products
Standardization of quality produce
Intensive farmer education
Unorganized rubber farmers resulting in low-volume marketing
Organization of farmers/
strengthening of existing org. for product consolidation in marketing (DTI, BRW-DOLE, NGOs, LGUs)

14. III. MARKETING CONCERNS
support to business
Adulterated rubber products
Standardization of quality produce (DA, DTI, Traders)

15. III. MARKETING CONCERNS
Illegal shipment of raw materials/produce (depriving processing plant workers of gainful employment)
Government regulation / legislation that will prohibit “backdoor trading” (DTI, LGUs, Legislators)

16. IV. OTHER CONCERNS
Lack of national direction for the Rubber Industry
No policy making and regulating body to support the industry
Creation of a Rubber Board/Authority by act of Congress (Legislators, LAs, Farmers)

17. IV. OTHER CONCERNS
Social Protection Concerns Inability to pay social obligations – sss, philhealth & pag-ibig
Extension of condonation program (SSS/PHILHEALTH/PAG-IBIG)

18. IV. OTHER CONCERNS
Inability to pay production loans and land amortization (for rubber cooperatives)
Condonation of loan interests/penalties (LBP,DBP, DAR)

19. High level of underemployment
IV. OTHER CONCERNS
High level of underemployment
Livelihood program/skills training (DOLE, TESDA, LGUs)
Denudation of forest lands
Promotion of alternative reforestation program through massive rubber planting (DENR, LGUs, farmers, IPs, Youths)

20. The RUBBER makers, users and lovers…
Farmers and NGOs – 4
Businessmen - 2
Consultant - 1
LGU
GAs

21. Happy Valentine!