The federal government says it is committed to revamping the rubber industry for economic growth of the country.

Ernest Umakhihe, the permanent secretary of the federal ministry of agriculture and rural development, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said the federal government was also committed to diversifying the nation’s economy from oil to agriculture, focusing on arable and cash crops for economic growth and development.

The ministry, over the years, prioritised and promoted the development of the Rubber Value Chain with the distribution of improved budded rubber stump plating materials.

“We have also provided growth enhancers to farmers to raise plantations and the facilitation of training on nursery development as well as tapping techniques,” he said.

Mr Umakhihe said the ministry, in collaboration with the Lohashilpi Sheeting Processing Technology, established the Rubber Resource Centre (RRRC) in Edo’s Ovia South West council area.

Mr Umakhihe urged the organisation to ensure full implementation of the plan by engaging the relevant stakeholders towards actualizing the dream of mass rubber production.

The permanent secretary pledged the ministry’s readiness to support the initiative by creating an enabling environment for the business to thrive.

Joseph Adelegan, the executive secretary of IRSG, said the group’s mandate was to revive the rubber sub-sector, which was declining and also stimulate investment in the sector.

Mr Adelegan said some challenges militating against the product of the commodity were the low productivity of the existing rubber plantations due to old age, poor agronomic practices and continued use of low-yielding seedlings, among others.

The director of the tree crops division in the ministry, Bernard Ukattah, appealed to the agency and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the programme’s implementation.

The programme, he said, was geared towards improving the rubber sub-sector to achieve economic growth and development.

(NAN)