IX Regular Projects Completed in 2016 Rubber (Natural) Enhancing Incomes of Smallholder Rubber Farmers in West and Central Africa CFC/IRSG/17
Submitting ICB International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) Project Executing Agency International Rubber Research and Development Board Countries Directly Benefiting Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana Project Cost USD 2,980,134 Common Fund for Commodities USD 1,936,701 (Grant) of which USD 1,000,000 from the OPEC Fund for International Development – OFID) Counterpart Contribution USD 1,043,433
The overall objective of the project is to increase the incomes of rubber smallholders in Africa. To achieve this broader objective the project aims at improving cultivation, harvesting and post-harvest handling of raw material, diversification of income base through inter-cropping and improvement of the supply chain for natural rubber by developing a network of certified nurseries and introducing the appropriate standards and treatment that would guarantee meeting the requirements of processors. The project has successfully completed a series of exposure visits to main rubber producing countries in Asia, namely Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Viet Nam on a “Training of Trainers” basis involving a total of 81 extension agents and leading farmers between the period 2008 - 2012. These visits included familiarization with modern rubber
production systems and best agricultural practices which would optimize the income potential of rubber plantations. Follow up incountry workshops have been conducted in each of the three participating countries and there is a clear evidence of farmers’ adoption of technologies and systems observed in Asia. To enhance and expand availability of an international clone exchange program was conducted. Under this program, African rubber growing countries, which do not have national breeding programs, are expected to benefit from the exchange of up to 40 improved rubber clones from Asia with the result of enhancing the productivity their rubber plantation. Such activities reached their completion in November 2014. The final review meeting held in Accra, Ghana, in February 2015, identified sev-
eral project achievements: (i) smallholder baseline studies have been completed and primary (budwood) and secondary (budded stamp) nurseries have been established for the multiplication and distribution of improved (higher yield and pest resistant) planting material to farmers in all the three implementing countries; and (ii) 133,300 budded stumps were distributed to 96 farmers in Ghana, while 106,000 were distributed to 56 farmers in Cote d’Ivoire and 280,000 were distributed to 160 farmers in Cameroon. A total of 450 smallholder rubber farmers in the three participating countries were trained in nursery and propagation management, pest & diseases control, budding techniques, and rubber intercropping. The final report was received in early 2016 and can be made available upon request. Photo: ©FAO/Giulio Napolitano
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