Cambodia expects to grow rubber trees on 400,000 hectares of land by 2030

By Lang Hokleng | Published on May 5, 2008

PHNOM PENH - Cambodia, which has land open for agriculture, is expected to grow rubber trees on 400,000 hectares of land between this year and 2030.

“I think that [the] price hike in rubber today may drive rubber crops in Cambodia up to 400,000 hectares, which can compete with Asian countries [that] produce rubber,” said Ly Pholla, General Director of the General Department of Rubber Plantations in an interview with CambodianTown.Com. “We see development of both parts [of the rubber tree crop, private and household,] is robust, annually growing [on] 10,000 hectares [of] land nationwide because some provinces have no culture of growing [the] rubber tree,” Pholla added, citing the progress of rubber tree cultivation in private and household settings.

Asia is currently the main source of natural rubber. The three largest producers in recent years have been Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, though Vietnam has seen increased production that may add the country to that list as well in coming years. According to the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG), Asia is also the largest consumer of rubber.

The extensive use and history of rubber makes it a lucrative industry for the countries capable of exporting it. The use of rubber ranges from household to industrial items. Natural rubber, called rubber latex, undergoes a process developed in the 19th century, called vulcanization, for use in the fabrication of or as commercial products. However, latex use dates back to prehistoric times and the indigenous people of the Amazon.

Preap Tan, the provincial Governor of Preah Vihear province, which has no rubber tree cultivation, said Tuesday that the province is of interest to investors for growing rubber trees on a hundred thousand hectares of land. “Ten companies have applied for investment in planting rubber tree[s] on land of 80,000 hectares in the province. We have potential land for growing rubber tree[s] [on] 200,000 hectares,” he added.

Nut Bunheng, the cabinet chief of Ratanakiri provincial hall said that the province also has an increasing trend of growing new rubber trees. “I hope that rubber will have [a] good price within 5 years, which [will] allow [an] increase in rubber crops on [a] hundred thousand hectares [in addition] to previous rubber trees covering 4500 hectares of land, which is being invested by Tay Seng company,” he added.

Tapping, the collection of latex from cuts in the tree, usually begins 5 years after the initial planting. At that time, according to published plantation guidelines, a hectare of land is recommended to contain 500 trees, each 50 cm in circumference and a meter in height. Efficient rubber tree cultivation is dependent somewhat on the water available to the trees and the number of trees the land can support is limited. In order for a country to increase its production of latex, both increased land for cultivation and increased productivity or use of the trees is necessary.

Ly Pholla said that rubber tree cultivation is now increasing across the nation. Thus, to promote the growth, the government should think about the land available from clearing forests. “The government must think about allotting the cleared land to expand rubber tree cultivation because rubber is also [a] natural tree. Cambodia is likely [to have a] difficult [time] expanding rubber tree growing if the resolution for new land is not carried out,” Ly Pholla added.

In 2007, to promote the planting of rubber trees, the government decided to grant the concession of about 250,000 hectares of land for cities and provinces to grow them. Currently, Cambodia has a total rubber crop of nearly 70,000 hectares, which yields about 40,000 to 50,000 tons of dry resin per year. Rubber resin currently costs about US$2,600 per ton.

According to the IRSG, the past three years have seen fluctuations between surplus and deficit in world rubber demand. Also, the price of natural rubber has continued to increase over the past year and consumption has increased continuously, though recently at a lower rate, and is expected to pick up in the coming years. All of this suggests that it is a worthwhile investment to increase rubber tree cultivation in Cambodia.

Ly Phala said, “We hope that if rubber still has a good price, the demand for rubber [trees] in Cambodia will increase rubber crops to about 400,000 hectares from now to 2030.”