Amid the complication of Corynespora leaf fall (CLF) disease in rubber trees, small rubber farms are in risks of destruction. In the province, rubber growers are facing with numerous difficulties to fight against the disease.

“Disaster” for small rubber farms

The province has so far had more than 12,000 ha of rubber trees, over 50% of which is from small rubber farms. The small rubber farms are an effective economic model, bringing a high income for many households. With the mass movement of planting rubber trees and poor attention of seedlings, small rubber farms have so far faced CLF.

 

Small rubber farms suffer CLF disease.

Reportedly, CLF in rubber trees appeared in Vietnam in 1999 and the disease has spread strongly with dangerous consequences. The disease has so far spread across 10 provinces in the Southeastern and Central Highland regions. In Binh Duong alone, the total rubber area infecting the disease was at over 5,000ha as of Sept. 10.

In the face of the complicated disease, the provincial Plant Protection Bureau has launched measures against the disease but the unit has encountered many obstacles. Small rubber farms will may be a dead loss, owing to shortage of facilities of spraying medicines. With a high cost of praying medicines, many rubber growers are wavering between fighting against the disease or planting other trees. Nguyen Van Lam in Phuoc Sang commune of Phu Giao district, said “We used all measures against the disease but the disease remains existent. Many neighboring households are thinking of chopping their rubber trees to plant other trees”.

At present, apart from some agamic strains of rubber trees, the strain of RRIV 4 is being contracted the disease most. Alarmingly, the strain has been planted most. According to the Vietnamese Institute of Rubber Research, in 2008 the strain was put out a list of rubber seedling structure, owing to its poor capacity.

The knowledge promulgation on selecting seedlings for rubber growers remains limited and consequently growers must suffer losses. With the decrease of capacity of 20-30%, growers are facing a very difficult future.

Refrain of chopping-planting trees

Unlike other trees, rubber trees account for a high investment and long time. Aside from selecting seedlings, it is necessary to help farmers solve the disease in a bid to prevent the refrain of chopping and planting trees.

According to experts, with the rubber plantations aged 4-5 years or farms under exploitation, measures against the disease should be continued. Meanwhile, newly-planted rubber farms need to be transplanted other strains to increase resistance.

Many farmers are in dire need of assistance from experts to save their farms.

Reported by C.Son – Translated by A.C