An agronomist, Otunba Igbinosu Peter has urged the federal government to invest in rubber production saying rubber is an important economic tree grown in Nigeria with about 150,000 hectares planted with rubber out of which 96,000 hectares are owned by smallholders and 54,000 hectares by estate owners.

Rubber, who is the national president, National Rubber Producers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NARPPMAN), made the call at a press briefing in Benin on Saturday.

He called on the federal government to invest in the development of the rubber industry sub-sector as part of its policy of diversifying its revenue base.

Otunba Igbinosu said that sustainable agricultural development is propelled by agricultural policy.

Otunba Igbinosu noted that rubber is found in Edo, Delta, Cross River, Abia, Imo, Rivers, Ondo, Ogun, Bayelsa and marginally in Taraba, Kaduna, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Osun and Ekiti.

He said a combination of factors has led to the dwindling fortunes of the rubber industry in Nigeria, particularly the non-conducive enabling environment where macro-economics and the agricultural policies are in disharmony.

“We want the federal government to come up with a policy through CBN to fund long gestation crops.We want the federal government to come up with National Rubber policy and strategies.

” We request the State Government to collaborate with NARPPMAN by having state rubber development policies and strategies and encourage farmers and industrial players with land and subsidies.

“We request the federal government to revamp the rubber board.We want the federal government to establish a national database for rubber and increase manpower development,” he said.