Last February, nine Felda Telai Timur settlers were happy after earning a gross income of RM9,000 a month from a rubber plantation project using ethylene stimulant gas (Hevea3).
Head of FELDA Teloi Timur Settlers, Ahmad Wahab, said that the use of the gas made a difference to the yield of latex.
Ahmad informed that the method used was by inserting the gas into an applicator on the trunk of the rubber tree, which increased the flow of latex, thus increasing the yield of tapping.
The gas would be inserted once a week and a 160-gram bottle of gas could be used for 120 rubber trees.
He stated that one rubber tree could produce between 200 and 300 grams of milk per tapping compared to only 40 to 55 grams previously.
After the tapping process was completed, the rubber tree would be rested for three days to collect the abundant latex before being tapped again.
Director of FELDA Kedah and Perlis Region, Abdul Rahman and Commodity and Malaysian Rubber Board (LGM) commented that the use of this new technology has the potential to strengthen the daily income of rubber settlers.
Furthermore, it plays a role in expanding rubber productivity and reducing dependence on tappers.
In line with this, the FELDA government will continue the project involved and strengthen the development of stimulant gas technology throughout other FELDA rubber plantation areas.
