RRIN expresses readiness to meet all demands for rubber related-products in Nig.
The Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (RRIN) has said that it was committed to ensuring that the country meets all its demands for rubber-related products, technologies and services.
Head of Research Outreach Department at the institute, Dr. Paul Anegbeh, who gave the assurance in a chat with newsmen at the 2022 National Agric Show at the agric show ground in Tudunwada, Nasarawa State, said aside from production, RRIN has trained rubber farmers, extension officers and students on how to use technology to develop improved planting materials to achieve its target.
Dr. Anegbeh stated that beside living up to its mandate to develop economic tree crops,the institute had been involved in the production of rubber and gum Arabic, the latter being used as binding agents and preservative in food, beverages and confectioneries.
He urged manufacturers in the country’s Agric sector to always take advantage of available agric shows to disseminate information on the existence of technologies, services and outputs to the public regarding production and development in the agricultural sector.
“RRIN with its Headquarters in Edo State and outstations in Yobe, Kaduna, Abia, and Ondo States has the mandate to work on two economic crops, ie rubber and gum arabic.
“In Yobe, RRIN works on improvement and biotechnology of gum Arabic which is used to produce the gum for food, beverages and confectioneries.
“Rubber is used in manufacturing of tyres of of all kinds of land and air transportation, rubber foot wears, buckets, vehicle exhaust holder/hangers, spoons and many more.
“Rubber takes seven to ten years (7-10 years) before it is matured and start giving benefits to farmers, but scientists at RRIN develop technology for the production of rubber clones, i.e. improved planting materials which we give out to farmers and within the period of five years the rubber will be matured for tapping.
“We have been training farmers, extension officers and students on how to use the technology to develop improved planting materials so that farmers will be encouraged to go into rubber business,” Dr. Anegbeh said.
