The haphazard planting of rubber trees on agriculture land in the northern mountainous provinces is threatening food security, warns an official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

And there is no evidence to show that rubber will provide a higher return than other cash crops, says Phan Huy Thong, deputy director of the ministry’s Cultivation Department.

The deputy director wants people in the highland provinces stopped from their unplanned planting of rubber trees from now to 2015.

They will not have sufficient experience and knowledge until then, he says.

“State policies should govern the growing of rubber trees in the three provinces while enterprises should provide investment capital, and technology and then buy and process rubber,” he says.

“This will limit the risk to growers.”

Three provinces

The deputy director says Lai Chau, Dien Bien and Son La are the only three northern provinces suitable for rubber but growers need patience to ensure its proper development.

“The ministry will research seedlings to choose the best for growers but farmers need to continue growing cereals to ensure food security,” he says.

Northern Mountain Agriculture and Forestry Technology Institute director Le Dang Doanh says the death of 100ha of rubber trees early this year had shown the weaknesses and shortcomings of both growers and administrators.

“Some provinces plan to develop thousands of ha of rubber although without a concrete plan,” he says.

Rubber trees grown in northern provinces would not have the yield of south-eastern Viet Nam and the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) because they shed their leaves and did not produce latex in winter.

Farmer fears

Although farmers have been provided with seedlings, fertiliser, other materials and technology, many dare not replant trees after failures earlier this year, says Lai Chau Province’s Khong Lao Commune People’s Committee Chairman Vuong Duc Kem.

Almost 630ha of rubber trees were planted in Lai Chau Province between 2006-07, mostly in Phong Tho District, but last year’s record cold snap killed more than 200ha.

Several northern mountainous provinces started growing rubber trees in 2005 as a potential key cash crop to help eliminate hunger, alleviate poverty and develop social economy.

The Viet Nam Rubber Corporation is reported to have planted more than 4,000ha of rubber trees in the three provinces and although the trees are growing well, they have yet to be tapped for latex.

The corporation is now planning to plant 30,000ha of rubber trees in Lai Chau and Dien Bien provinces. (VNS)