The programme to increase one million rais of new natural rubber (NR) planting in Thailand has progressed very well (www.rubberthai.com).  Out of the total planned, 300,000 rais will be in the north and 700,000 rais in the north-eastern part of the country.  This effort should keep Thailand as the top NR producing country in the coming years. The government expects a 7% rise in rubber output from this new planting.  Seven years from now, the increase in output is expected to be derived from 220,000 newly productive trees a year.  This complements approximately two million rais that have already been planted in the north-eastern part of the country.  The government aims to increase productivity and reduce cost as well as improve infrastructure in this area.

In the meantime, it was reported that the political problem in the south has resulted in 15 per cent or about 30,000 tonnes lost in rubber output, which is worth around 3,000 million baht a year.  The government has recommended that the farmers in this region tap rubber trees at around 6-8 a.m.   Previously, they would tap the rubber in the dark at an earlier time.  A chemical stimulant will be used to balance out the expected reduced quantity of the output due to tapping at the later time.