The falling price of rubber has started hitting hundreds of small-scale farmers in Kozhikode. Government-level initiatives are yet to come up to procure raw rubber and ensure them a better supportive price.
In Thiruvambadi, Mukkam, Koodaranji, Thamarassery and Koombara, farmers no longer appoint labourers to tap rubber as they do not get a reasonable return to meet the production cost.
Currently, farmers get Rs.93 a kg of rubber, which was priced above Rs.250 till recently.
Though the market rate of ‘A’ grade rubber is currently Rs.120, farmers are not guaranteed this sum because of the uncompromising grading process of local merchants.
K. Johnson, leader of a farmers’ forum, says the price fluctuation will push farmers to crisis in the days ahead.
Support price
Farmers demand that agencies like NAFED should come up to support farmers by announcing a reasonable support price and start procuring rubber.
The Hindu
