Thai researchers successfully develops new para rubber strain

BANGKOK, October 3 (TNA) - Researchers from Thailand’s Department of Agriculture, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, have successfully developed a new para rubber strain which can produce about three times higher than other strains. The department's Deputy Director-General Damrong Jirasuthat told reporters that the new para rubber strain developed by the Thai researchers can produce up to 500-600 kilograms of natural rubber per rai (2.2 rais=1 acre) annually, compared with 200-400 kilograms of para rubber produced yearly by existing strains. Damrong acknowledged that the newly-developed natural rubber strain is now categorized as class 3, meaning that it has been planted in open field areas for further study on its resistance against pests and diseases. According to the senior official, local rubber farmers have, however, been already suggested to grow the new strain of natural rubber, with its seedlings now being available at rubber research centers nationwide. The senior official estimated that the newly-developed para rubber strain will be categorized as class 2 and 1 respectively within 1-2 years. The senior official also announced, on the occasion of the 41st anniversary of the department’s founding on October 1, that his department has targeted to work on research projects to boost productivity of Thai farm products, especially such major economic crops as sugarcane, corn, oil palm and para rubber, as part of Thailand's preparations for the establishment of the ASEAN Community (AC), with greater competition, by 2015. (TNA)