| Author | Fernando, T. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.ET-87-1 |
| Subject(s) | Rubber industry and trade--Sri Lanka
|
| Note | A thesis submitter in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Rubber estates currently are managed with an objective to
maximize the production of latex; which seems not reasonable with
rapidly increasing wood and timber prices. It was felt that the
estates as well as the country may increase the benefits by
recognizing the value of rubber wood resource and plan for its
production. This study is an attempt to optimize the rubber
plantation industry using a dynamic model in order to assess the
potential of rubber wood.
The first few sections of the study are devoted to an
assessment of the value of rubber wood as against latex. Current
plantation practices are analyzed, followed by a critique.
Construction of the dynamic model and the estimation of
technical information are given much consideration. Forecasting
the market conditions using linear regression approximations is
discussed in detail.
Model output confirms the sub - optimality of current
plantation practices, and suggests optimization strategies.
Results reveal that the annual uprooting scale ha s to be raised.
Net benefits secured through the increased production of rubber
wood are analyzed in detail. The impacts on many important subsectors, especially on the energy sub - sector, are also evaluated.
The study further analyses the benefits to the estates and to the
economy as a whole separately through such a process of
optimization.
The final section of the study is an assessment of the
advantages and disadvantages of the modeling approach and
recommendations for improvements. Suggestions are also made for
future studies in the field. |
| Year | 1987 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Energy Technology (ET) |
| Chairperson(s) | Codoni, Rene ;Frausum, Yves G. Van
|
| Examination Committee(s) | Chateau, Bertrand
|
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Commission of European Communities (CEC) |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology,1987 |