COTABATO CITY (PIA) -- The Department of Agriculture - Philippine Rubber Research Institute (DA-PRRI) has shared a new technique in planting rubber seedlings using the root trainer technology, a technique which cuts the production of rubber planting material from 18 months to 5 months.

During Friday's Talakayang Dose, a radio program of the Philippine Information Agency Region 12, DA-PRRI Project Assistant III Dr. Jill Villanueva emphasized that the new technology will produce more quality rubber planting materials.

“Root trainer technology is a new technique in producing quality planting materials. This technique leads to the development of rubber planting materials with high rate of survival and to address the future challenge of climate change,” Villanueva explained.

The said technology was developed in India and other rubber growing countries like Malaysia and Thailand.  

She said that based on the initial observation conducted by the University of Southern Mindanao in partnership with DA Region 9, root trainer plants showed faster growth and can withstand environmental stress after planting, resulting in high survival rate.

Further, Villanueva explained that the new technique will enable the Philippines to propagate climate-resilient rubber planting materials at lower cost.

“We hope to fast-track the pilot-testing and promotion campaign of root trainer for the benefit of our rubber nurseries in the country,” Villanueva concluded. (with reports from Lean Twinkle Bolongon-PIA Cotabato City/Photo from DA-PRRI)