Rubber Value Chain Development in Nigeria

Rubber Production in Nigeria

Rubber is an important economic tree crop in which ranks third as a major foreign exchange earner after oil palm and cocoa in the seventies and eighties. In 2011, Nigeria was the fourth largest producer of natural rubber in Africa with average production of 90,000-100,000 mt. The area under rubber is estimated at 154,000ha comprising 96,000ha under smallholdings and 58,000ha under estates down from 258,000ha with more than 75 percent under rubber smallholdings. Rubber is grown in 18 States namely; Edo, Delta, Abia, Imo, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Anambra, Oyo, Ondo. Taraba, Ogun, Ebonyi, Enugu, Osun, Ekiti and Kaduna. The Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (RRIN) has however introduced Natural Rubber in non-traditional states such as Benue and Adamawa.

Welcome to the Ever Expanding World of Rubber!

On board the rubber value chain

The main objective of the Rubber Value Chain is to revive the rubber industry which is on the decline, increase production as well as stimulate investment in more value added products - with the broad specific objectives as follows:

• Increase the natural rubber plantation
• Increase natural rubber production to 200,000mt in the medium term
• Increase the yield of latex among plantation operators,
• Promote greater interest and concern for engaging youths, women and other stakeholders in rubber plantation, processing and marketing activities,
• Create employment opportunities by supporting investments within the rubber value chain.

In short the Rubber Value Chain will focus on assisting the smallholder farmers to obtain the right planting material, build capacity of farmers/tappers in good agronomic and tapping practices; promoting increased local consumption of our natural rubber through value addition and creating support for marketing activities.

With this short expose, I welcome you on board the ever expanding world of the Rubber Value Chain.