Inaugurating the three-day international workshop on ‘Climate Change and natural Rubber Cultivation', organised jointly by the Rubber Research Institute of India and International Rubber Research and Development Board (IRRDB) here on Wednesday, Mr. Peter said the fall in productivity of natural rubber in the past few years could be directly linked with the effects of greenhouse gases.

The impact would have greater bearing on the natural rubber sector since majority of the holdings were of half a hectare in area and the farmer was faced with a gestation period of six to seven years for availing a regular income from his investment for the next quarter of a century.

Increasing output

Stephen V. Evans, secretary general, International Rubber Study Group (IRSG), said the normal natural rubber production would substantially increase in the coming decade on account the contribution from the nearly one million ha that has been brought under cultivation in the south-east Asian countries.

However, these projected figures would be impacted by the effects of climate change and change in land use pattern, he said. Prof. J. Srinivasan of Indian institute of Science, Bangaluru, said the global mean temperature of earth has increased by one degree Celsius during the past 150 years and the present century would witness an accelerated pace of increase in temperature if human beings continue to depend on fossil fuels.