Need to maintain and develop rubber trees
(Baonghean) - Up to now, more than a century, since the French colonial period, rubber trees have appeared in Vietnam in general, and in Nghe An in particular, bringing great economic and social efficiency.
Currently, Nghe An alone has 10,200 hectares of rubber trees, planted in 10 districts, the largest being Tan Ky with 2,446 hectares, Nghia Dan with 2,254 hectares, Thai Hoa Town with 1,662 hectares... Of the above area, 3,987 hectares are being exploited for latex with a dry latex output of 4,651 tons. According to Decision No. 4183/QD.UBND of Nghe An province, in 2015 the whole province strives to plant 6,000 hectares of new rubber trees. The current decrease in the price of rubber latex products on the world market (from 5,000 USD/ton in the period of 2009 - 2011, to only around 1,500 USD/ton) is due to the consequences of the impact of the world economic recession, which is only temporary, and the value and importance of rubber trees cannot be replaced by any other tree.
But unfortunately, many people have been hesitant to plant rubber due to the sharp drop in rubber prices. Some people have even considered cutting down some rubber trees to plant acacia trees that are selling well. Such thinking is a serious mistake, especially in agricultural production, where reality has proven that chasing prices, cutting down one tree and planting another will lead to failure and even bankruptcy.
Mr. Tran Ngoc Be - Director of Song Con Agriculture Company said: The company currently has 903 hectares of rubber trees, both old and new; the storm in 2013 broke and felled 35 - 40% of the rubber trees in the latex tapping period. However, when discussing whether to convert part of the rubber trees to other crops to prevent the impact of storms and current price fluctuations, almost 100% of the people in the company objected and said that only rubber trees can bring real and long-term value to the people here, while price fluctuations are only temporary! Therefore, the leaders of Song Con Agriculture Company still identify rubber trees as the number 1 crop and a crop that not only eliminates hunger and reduces poverty but also makes people rich right on this land!
The maintenance of rubber trees at Song Con Agricultural Company is, in our opinion, commendable.
Doan Tri Tue
