Nigeria: Seeking to revitalize the rubber industry, moving towards a value chain and sustainable production

Source: news.vrg.vn Dr. Victor Iyama, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Agricultural Commodities Associations of Nigeria (FACAN), believes that Nigeria can significantly increase its contribution to the global rubber supply if it modernizes its production system and upgrades the value chain. According to him, the rubber industry needs to shift from primarily exporting raw materials to building a high-value-added and highly competitive rubber economy. Currently, Nigeria's rubber production is mainly concentrated in the states of Edo, Delta, and Ondo, generating approximately USD 80.7 million in export revenue annually. However, despite having around 18 million hectares of land suitable for rubber cultivation, the area currently being exploited is only about 200,000 hectares, equivalent to 1.1%. According to Professor Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, Director General of the Nigerian Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), over 80% of the current rubber ...