Rubber growers are disappointed that the State government has not allocated funds for offering support prices in the budget for those hit by the steep fall in the price of rubber over the last five years.
The price of natural rubber fell from Rs. 208 a kg in 2011-12 to Rs. 108 a kg now.
Sridhar G. Bhide, president, Karnataka State Rubber Belegarara Hitarakshana Vedike, Ujire, told The Hindu that the growers had submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on March 1, to reserve at least Rs. 100 crore. Ministers in-charge of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, B. Ramanath Rai and Vinay Kumar Sorake had accompanied the team of growers while they were submitting the memorandum. In addition, Mr. Rai, through a letter, signed by all the MLAs of two districts, had requested the Chief Minister to reserve the fund. But the growers have been let down.
N. Sharath Bhandary, president, Karnataka Rubber Planters’ Association, said that the growers had pressed for the support price by staging a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office here on January 18. They urged the government to reserve funds for the support price to ensure that the growers got at least Rs. 150 for a kg of rubber. “The government should have reserved the fund. We are disappointed,” he said.
