N. Cotabato pushes up rubber production

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines — Some 50,000 rubber seedlings have been distributed to farmers in three North Cotabato towns as future demand for the product is expected to remain strong, officials said. North Cotabato Gov. Jesus N. Sacdalan said that some 100 farmers from the towns of Matam, Aleosan and Magpet have availed of the provincial government’s plant now-pay later rubber program, which provides them with 500 seedlings per hectare each. "The price of rubber remains good given the strong global market demand, and this is projected to continue and even increase," Mr. Sacdalan said. North Cotabato has allocated P10 million for its rubber development program under the 2008 budget, the biggest allocation among priority high value commercial crops which include oil palm, hybrid coconut, and mango. Rubber cup lumps in the province cost P50 per kilo, estimated to give a farmer a net income of P14,000/hectare. — BusinessWorld