Traditionally the price paid to rubber smallholders has often been arbitrary and exploitative. Through Firstlight, the price paid to the farmer is indexed to RSS1, the highest grade of the most consumed form of raw rubber. Complete transparency is maintained in the pricing. Smallholders receive a better price as opposed to other available options, such as:

• Sale through middlemen with their margin
• Sale as RSS in the village at arbitrary price based on RSS3/RSS5

The price is not discounted for the middlemen’s margin and only for the conversion from field latex to RSS1 and the resultant RSS grade percentage. Payment for rubber supplied is made twice a month, timely and on fixed dates. A secure payment system is in place through the rural banking network.

Firstlight emphasizes and encourages quality, efficiency, safety and adoption of best practices on rubber farms. While Introducing new technologies like rain guards which can increase productivity by 70%, Special collection cups and high quality tapping knives provided by Firstlight enables the farmers to increase their income. The special collecting cups improve field latex hygiene by preventing putrefaction leading to higher quality latex and thereby higher price for their produce. Wastage is minimized by reduction of scrap.

In addition, distribution of fertilizer free-of-cost and rubber saplings at subsidized rates help ease the cost of production for rubber farmers, while simultaneously increasing their productivity and profit.

Lack of high-grade planting material is a major issue for the small farmer. Providing materials to set up and maintain plant nurseries is an area of focus of Firstlight.

Firstlight offers counter pressure to urbanization and deforestation. Deforestation is a major concern in the country as forest lands are increasingly cleared for food cultivation and housing. The impact of deforestation on global warming and climate change is well known. Rubber lands, often referred to as man-made forests preserve air quality, help in climate / rainfall regulation and soil conservation: in part they help fight global warming and ozone depletion.

Education is the path out of poverty and the route to equitable development. Local language newsletters published quarterly disseminate information on best practices to the farmers on subjects such as;

• Preparation of soil and soil conservation
• Importance of high quality plant material
• Planting methods
• Tapping techniques
• Harvest improvement
• Field upkeep
• Diseases affecting rubber and prevention

Practical training is an integral part of Firstlight. Training on tapping techniques, conservation of bark, field hygiene and maintenance of rubber fields too are conducted. Formal classroom sessions on 5S in rubber plantations, planting, tapping techniques, quality control and productivity improvement are organized to educate the farmers to increase their productivity and income.

Smallholders account for 65% of Sri Lanka’s national rubber crop and rubber accounts for 0.6% of Sri Lanka’s National GDP.

DPL today consumes14% of Sri Lanka’s rubber production and 98% of our requirement comes from 6,800 small farmers mostly owning less than two hectors.

Albeit in a small way, Firstlight makes it viable for small farmers to earn a living from rubber.

Sustenance of the small farmers is vital for the continuity of the rubber finished products industry in Sri Lanka.

Firstlight continually seeks to assist farmers and their communities located in the most economically disadvantaged areas of Sri Lanka. Firstlight sponsored projects include:

• Health clinics
• Provision of educational materials and other assistance to schools
• Recreational facilities for schools and sports clubs
• Village social events