A Cambodia Rubber Plantation Project

In addition to the rubber plantation in Kompong Cham province, Cambodia, we have started a new plantation project in Rattanakiri province in late 2008. Rubber trees take about 6 years to mature until they produce latex for crepe rubber production. So this plantation will not be ready for harvesting until 2015.

We acquired 40 ha of top fertile land about 25 km from Ban Long, the capital city of Rattanakiri province in the Northeast of Cambodia. This is virgin land, which we are preparing for use as a plantation.

First we will clear the land of all trees, bushes, and shrubbery. It will then be plowed to loosen the soil. In the meantime the seedlings were planted at a special nursery. Once the seedlings have reached a height of about 50 cm they will be transplanted into the plantation proper. Any tree that fails to grow up to about 1 m within 3 months will be replaced by another seedling.

As long as the crowns of the trees do not cover the ground with shade we will plant soy beans to offset the cost of maintenance. After about 3 to 4 years the crowns of the trees will have closed. The maintenance of the plantation will mainly consist of clearing the spaces between trees from any weeds and underbrush that grows very quickly in tropical climates. This will also ensure the soy bean crop. We try to be as ecological as possible and will confine the use of chemicals to the least possible amount. As regular fertilizer we will use buffalo dung, which reportedly as the best properties.

View pictures here.