Director General's Message

Automatic Rubber Tapping System (ARTS) makes Debut at MICCOS 2011

The rubber industry has played a crucial role in the early post-independence economic development of the country. The fast changing landscape and growth trends within the Malaysian economy were to a considerable extent influenced by the industry. However, it has since taken a backseat in recent decades due to challenges facing the industry such as declining rubber acreage, low productivity and labour shortage.

Malaysia’s NR production is dependent on smallholders which make up 95% with the remaining from the estate sector. In 2010, Malaysia’s production was 939,241 tonnes and in 2011 it is expected to rise to one million tonnes. In 2020, with new planting areas at 150,000 ha and tappable area at 1 million ha, production is expected to reach two million tonnes. Hence, with this current scenario, the MRB is constantly researching new methods and technologies to increase production to meet the above targets as well as to sustain the competitiveness of the downstream sector as outlined in the Malaysian Rubber Industry (MRI) Strategies. At the recent Malaysian International Commodity Conference & Showcase (MICCOS) held from 28 – 30 October 2011, with the theme “Creating Wealth through Innovation” the Automatic Rubber Tapping System (ARTS), an innovation in harvesting technology made its debut.

One of the MRI Strategies outlined is to improve productivity through breeding for the upstream sector and value-added products in the downstream sector. The rubber industry was given a special focus under the National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) for Palm Oil and that rubber would also be included as a contributor towards the nation’s Gross National Income (GNI). Through the NKEA, the ARTS R&D project was allocated funding of RM5.7 million.

ARTS is a breakthrough in harvesting technology to meet the requirements of the industry and to assist the nation to remain competitive as a major rubber producing country. ARTS was given special emphasis to increase productivity and solve the labour shortage situation in the upstream sector. This research was initiated combining the expertise in engineering and agriculture to develop an automatic tapping machine that is economically viable, technically feasible and socially acceptable. With ARTS, mechanisation is introduced at farm level and is the best alternative with the ability to increase both land and tapper productivity and at the same time, overcoming the shortage of skilled tappers.

The automatic tapping machine is fixed to the tree, and will able to perform the tapping task automatically according to a programmed schedule. This machine provides flexibility as the tapping frequency can be varied and the time of tapping is adjustable. Apart from tapping, a piping system is used to collect the latex and will be installed at each tree. ARTS is MRB’s brainchild and was implemented in collaboration with Zul Design, a well known innovator and entrepreneur. ARTS is the breakthrough that is needed by the industry to increase productivity in the upstream sector, reduce foreign labour requirements, meeting the needs of the midstream and downstream sector for raw materials and most importantly increase the income of the smallholders. To meet the needs of the industry and the smallholders, we hope to put ARTS for commercial trials by October 2012. Let’s put our efforts together and synergise to make ARTS a reality to sustain the natural rubber industry.

Director General MRB, Datuk Dr Salmiah Ahmad briefing ARTS to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia during MICCOS 2011

Best Regards

Datuk Dr Salmiah Ahmad
Director General
Malaysian Rubber Board