The Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI) has introduced three new rubber varieties—RM 001, RM 002, and RM 003—to address challenges in the country’s rubber industry. These varieties, cloned from high-yielding rubber trees in Malaysia, are projected to be more than three times as profitable as their domestic counterparts. BFRI plans to establish a bud bank in Ramu, Cox’s Bazar, to distribute seedlings to public and private rubber gardens across the country.
The new rubber trees are expected to go into production in three to four years, with superior growth compared to other varieties. The development process involves collecting seeds from the Malaysian PB 350 rubber tree, meticulous tissue culture, successful bud grafting, and field-level research. The new varieties are anticipated to offer significantly enhanced latex yields, potentially three to four times more than current varieties. Bangladesh hosts 5,500 rubber plantations covering approximately 140,000 acres, sustaining around 80,23,000 rubber trees and employing 56,000 people.
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